adjective
-
of or relating to space
-
existing or happening in space
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of spatial
First recorded in 1840–50; from Latin spati(um) space + -al 1
Compare meaning
How does spatial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Spatial describes how objects fit together in space, either among the planets or down here on earth. There's a spatial relationship between Mars and Venus, as well as between the rose bushes in the backyard. Spatial has to do with the distance between things, so mathematicians and computer scientists love using the word. "They measured the spatial relations of ping-pong balls in the gravity-free room." It can also refer to how people perceive the objects in front of them. If you're not wearing your glasses, your spatial perception might be off. If you're a space cadet, you might wander off into space. Not surprisingly, spatial is from the Latin word spatium for "space."
Vocabulary lists containing spatial
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
G.1: Principles of Geography (Sources 1–14)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They can also use the “Clean Up” tool and spatial reframing capabilities to fix up pictures even if they were a bit too late to capture the perfect shot.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
A deep-lying central midfielder whose genius was spatial.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Hesai also introduced a new reporting structure separating its core lidar business from strategic growth initiatives, which includes Kosmo—an AI-powered spatial intelligence device targeting robotics simulation, immersive media and physical AI applications, they say.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
The result demonstrated that the sunlight-powered system could handle more complex spatial patterns.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
Perhaps some missing genes contribute to the spatial deficit.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
