38th parallel

American  

[thur-tee-eytth par-uh-lel, par-uh-luhl, thur-tee-eyth] / ˈθɜr tiˌeɪtθ ˈpær əˌlɛl, ˈpær ə ləl, ˈθɜr tiˌeɪθ /

Or 38th Parallel

noun

1. the line of latitude 38 degrees North (38° N), in East Asia, which roughly marks the border between North Korea and South Korea: set by the U.S. in 1945 as a military boundary, three years before these countries were officially established.

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Etymology

Origin of 38th parallel

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

38th parallel

But instead of merely laying out strategic mistakes made by the U.S., she details how an imaginary border - the 38th parallel - dreamt up by the U.S. eventually divided her family.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 27, 2019

The only North Korean athletes to qualify for the Games on merit have bonded with their competitors from across the 38th parallel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2018

The wounds of the postwar division from the north — in which Japan was ousted but the Soviets controlled territory above the 38th parallel, the United States south of it — were fresh.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 7, 2018

North of the 38th parallel, a line that crosses Korea at 38 degrees north latitude, Japanese troops surrendered to Soviet forces.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2012

After the service, as the remaining worshippers gathered outside the church, news whipsawed through the crowd that North Korean troops had crossed the 38th parallel.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau