right triangle

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noun

a triangle having a right angle (contrasted with oblique triangle).

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Origin of right triangle

First recorded in 1920–25

Words nearby right triangle

right-to-know, right-to-life, right-to-work, right-to-work law, right-to-work laws, right triangle, right up one's alley, rightward, rightwards, right whale, right wing

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use right triangle in a sentence

Meanwhile, the smallest right triangle with whole number side lengths was 3-4-5, which had an area of 6 square inches.
Can You Crack The Case Of The Crystal Key?|Zach Wissner-Gross (riddlercolumn@gmail.com)|May 28, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Because of the symmetry about that isosceles right triangle in the top right of the figure, the two chords had to be equal in length.
Can You Solve March Mathness?|Zach Wissner-Gross (riddlercolumn@gmail.com)|March 26, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The height — along with one of the legs of the isosceles right triangles and a line connecting the equilateral base’s centroid with one of its corners — formed yet another right triangle.
Can You Randomly Move The Tower?|Zach Wissner-Gross|February 5, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Everywhere I go, ‘Hey Cartman, you must like Family Guy, right?’
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Charlie ridiculed my faith and culture and I died defending his right to do so.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Gay marriage was the hot-button fight on the left and right.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is grandstanding for a right rarely protected unless under immediate attack.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What need to look to right or left when you are swallowing up free mile after mile of dizzying road?
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Mrs. Wurzel was quite right; they had been supplied, regardless of cost, from Messrs. Rochet and Stole's well-known establishment.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
She is quite true, but not wise, and your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
In Spain he was regarded as the right arm of the ultra-clericals and a possible supporter of Carlism.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The thought seemed to produce the dreaded object, for next moment a large hummock appeared right ahead.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for right triangle

right triangle

noun

US and Canadian a triangle one angle of which is a right angleAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): right-angled triangle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for right triangle

right triangle

A triangle having a right angle.

Cultural definitions for right triangle

right triangle

A triangle that contains a right angle.