quadrilateral

1 of 2

noun

quad·​ri·​lat·​er·​al ˌkwä-drə-ˈla-t(ə-)rəl How to pronounce quadrilateral (audio)
: a polygon of four sides

quadrilateral

2 of 2

adjective

: having four sides

Examples of quadrilateral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Does this three-point configuration always admit a convex quadrilateral? — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026 This casting also gives more oomph to the musical’s love quadrilateral, which pairs Queenie and Burrs with a B-couple, the rising star Kate (the ever-magnetic Adrienne Warren) and her escort, Black (an exceptionally suave Jelani Alladin), who are here both darker-skinned. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The quadrilateral, pentagonal and hexagonal cases all obey this formula, but no larger shapes have been confirmed. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026 Its four brightest stars form a compact quadrilateral shape that stands out against the otherwise sparse background of Virgo. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for quadrilateral

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin quadrilaterus four-sided, from quadri- + later-, latus side

First Known Use

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quadrilateral was in 1650

Rhymes for quadrilateral

See All Rhymes for quadrilateral

Browse Nearby Words

quadrigamist
quadrilateral
quadrilingual
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quadrilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrilateral. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

quadrilateral

1 of 2 adjective
quad·​ri·​lat·​er·​al ˌkwäd-rə-ˈlat-ə-rəl How to pronounce quadrilateral (audio)
-ˈla-trəl
: having four sides

quadrilateral

2 of 2 noun
: a polygon with four sides and four angles

Medical Definition

quadrilateral

adjective
quad·​ri·​lat·​er·​al ˌkwäd-rə-ˈlat-ə-rəl, -ˈla-trəl How to pronounce quadrilateral (audio)
: having four sides
a quadrilateral muscle

More from Merriam-Webster on quadrilateral

Nglish: Translation of quadrilateral for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quadrilateral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All