geometric

American  

[jee-uh-me-trik] / ˌdʒi əˈmɛ trɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to geometry or to the principles of geometry.

2. resembling or employing the simple rectilinear or curvilinear lines or figures used in geometry.

3. of or relating to painting, sculpture, or ornamentation of predominantly geometric characteristics.

4. (often initial capital letter)

   1. pertaining to or designating a style of vase painting developed in Greece between the 10th and 8th centuries b.c., characterized chiefly by rectilinear or curvilinear shapes in abstract and human figuration, often arranged in tiers or panels around the vase.

   2. designating a style of Greek sculpture of approximately the same period, exemplified chiefly in small figurines or reliefs having a schematic and generalized treatment of the human form.

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noun

1. a geometric pattern, design, etc..

   an ornate and handsome geometric.

geometric British  

/ ˌdʒɪəˈmɛtrɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or following the methods and principles of geometry

2. consisting of, formed by, or characterized by points, lines, curves, or surfaces

   a geometric figure

3. (of design or ornamentation) composed predominantly of simple geometric forms, such as circles, rectangles, triangles, etc

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Other Word Forms

• nongeometric
  adjective
• nongeometrical
  adjective
• semigeometric
  adjective
• semigeometrical
  adjective
• subgeometric
  adjective
• subgeometrical
  adjective
• ungeometric
  adjective
• ungeometrical
  adjective
• geometrically
  adverb
• nongeometrically
  adverb
• semigeometrically
  adverb
• subgeometrically
  adverb
• ungeometrically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of geometric

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin geōmetricus, from Greek geōmetrikós, from geométr(ēs) ( geometer + -ikos -ic

Explanation

Use the adjective geometric to describe anything that's decorated with simple shapes and lines. The geometric design of your new wallpaper, with its repeated triangles, makes your room look really sophisticated. In math, geometric refers to geometry — any calculations involving the angles of a polygon or the diameter of a circle are geometric. The Greek root is geometria, "measurement of earth or land." The math definition of geometric is its original meaning, dating to the early 17th century. It wasn't until 1900 that the adjective was first used to describe a design style — specifically, a type of Greek pottery decoration characterized by lines and angles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

geometric

The meaning of the geometric shapes and animal outlines remains a mystery, with some believing they had ritual astronomical functions, according to UNESCO, which declared the area a World Heritage site in 1994.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The couple also sourced period Moorish floral and geometric tile patterns from books, now piled in their library.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

In the team's latest work, the newly identified superconductors, YRu3B2 and LuRu3B2, owe their properties to electrons forming flat bands within a kagome lattice, a geometric arrangement inspired by traditional Japanese basket weaving patterns.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026

One user on RedNote, another Chinese social media platform, said: "Such basic geometric shapes have been used everywhere throughout history, not just China."

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Instead, they saw the interplay of numerals—numbers stripped of their geometric significance.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• geometrical