trigonometry
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- nontrigonometric adjective
- nontrigonometrical adjective
- nontrigonometrically adverb
- trigonometric adjective
- trigonometrical adjective
- trigonometrically adverb
- untrigonometric adjective
- untrigonometrical adjective
- untrigonometrically adverb
Etymology
Origin of trigonometry
Explanation
Trigonometry is the branch of math that focuses on triangles. A student who loves trigonometry may have a career as a mathematician in her future, or as a musician specializing in playing the triangle (just kidding). When you take a trigonometry class, you'll spend a lot of time learning about the sides and angles of triangles and the functions and relationships of their measurements. You'll memorize many formulas and encounter words like sine and cosine as well. The noun trigonometry has been around for hundreds of years, ever since a sixteenth century mathematician coined it, from the Greek trigonon, "triangle" and metron, "a measure."
Vocabulary lists containing trigonometry
"The Math Instinct," Vocabulary from the math essay
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Geometry - High School
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myPerspectives 6.3
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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.
In the years following graduation, Jenner and Pratt would team up to produce “The Princes Of Malibu,” but only after Pratt, who was attending USC, almost flunked a course in business trigonometry.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026
"For example, you have to memorise the exact values of trigonometry - and that's something we're not even asking A-level students to do," she said.
From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025
One dude jokes, “If only I remembered any trigonometry, this would be easy.”
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025
You know what's more difficult than advanced trigonometry?
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2024
Norwood returned to Bermuda with his family, becoming a successful planter and devoting his leisure hours to his first love, trigonometry.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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.
