true north

American  

noun

Navigation, Surveying.

1. the direction of the north pole from a given point.

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true north British  

noun

1. Also called: geographic north.  the direction from any point along a meridian towards the North Pole Compare magnetic north

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true north Scientific  

1. See geographic north

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Compare meaning

How does true-north compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• true north vs. magnetic north

Example Sentences

“It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2025

The hade is essentially the tilt of the sample, while the azimuth is the absolute direction the sample is pointing relative to true north.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2024

While promising to modernize the agency’s technology, address its paperwork burden and audit high-income earners, Werfel says he will be “unyielding in following my true north to increase public trust.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

Hopefully, he said, they recalibrated to the true north before beginning their first migration.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2021

The pyramid and the rest of the city are oriented on a rectilinear grid 15° 25” from true north, a direction that may have aligned with the cave mouth.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann