# perpendicular

/ˌpɝpənˈdɪkjəɫɝ/ (US) · /pˌɜːpəndˈɪkjʊlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perpendicular
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. at a right angle

adjective · CEFR B2

forming a 90-degree angle to another line or surface.

For teachers: meeting a given line or surface at a right angle (90 degrees).

- The wall is perpendicular to the floor, forming a perfect corner.
- The architect ensured that the support beams were exactly perpendicular to the foundation to maintain structural integrity.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 2. architecture style

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a style of English building from the 1300s and 1400s with many straight vertical lines.

For teachers: relating to the final stage of English Gothic architecture, characterised by vertical tracery and large windows.

- The cathedral is a famous example of the Perpendicular style.
- The chapel features the soaring verticality and intricate fan vaulting typical of the Perpendicular period of English Gothic design.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Perpendicular' when referring to the specific historical period.

### 3. a vertical line

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a line that is at a 90-degree angle to another line.

For teachers: a line or plane that stands at a right angle to another.

- The teacher asked the students to draw a perpendicular from the top of the triangle.
- To calculate the height of the slope, you must first drop a perpendicular from the highest point to the base line.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'drop a perpendicular'.

## Examples

- The vertical post must be perpendicular to the floor.
- The architect designed the new wing to be perpendicular to the original structure to create a sheltered courtyard.
- In Euclidean geometry, two lines are considered perpendicular if they meet at a right angle, a principle fundamental to ensuring the structural integrity of load-bearing walls in modern construction.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.