the equator
noun
: an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole
The city of Quito, Ecuador, lies very close to the equator.
Examples of the equator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes.
—
ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
Powerful auroras reaching Mexico could therefore suggest countries closer to the equator are more at risk from solar storms than first thought.
—Tom Brown, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Not only are the polar regions invisible to astronauts on the International Space Station, but to see them from a spacecraft requires a flight path that isn’t as close to the equator, as is the norm.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Around 2011, sargassum blooms started to shift south, closer to the equator.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the equator
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
Powerful auroras reaching Mexico could therefore suggest countries closer to the equator are more at risk from solar storms than first thought.
—Tom Brown, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Not only are the polar regions invisible to astronauts on the International Space Station, but to see them from a spacecraft requires a flight path that isn’t as close to the equator, as is the norm.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Around 2011, sargassum blooms started to shift south, closer to the equator.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the equator
Cite this Entry
“The equator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20equator. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share