altitude
AL-tuh-tood
/ˈæl.tɪ.tjuːd/
The height of an aircraft above sea level or ground level.
In aviation, altitude specifically measures height above mean sea level (MSL), distinct from height above ground.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'altitudo', derived from the adjective 'altus' meaning high. It entered Middle English through Old French, maintaining its fundamental meaning of physical height above a baseline.
Word relationships
- elevation: Elevation refers to fixed ground or terrain height, whereas altitude refers to objects in the air.
- height: Height is distance above a local reference point; altitude is referenced against mean sea level.
- depth: Distance below surface level.
Commonly confused with
- elevation: Elevation measures land height above sea level; altitude measures aircraft height above sea level.
Word family
- altitudinal (adjective): Relating to altitude.
Collocations
- cruising altitude
- maintain altitude
- assigned altitude
- gain altitude
- lose altitude
Example sentences
- "The captain requested permission to climb to a higher cruising altitude to avoid clear-air turbulence." En-Route Operations
- "Air traffic control instructed the flight to maintain an altitude of thirty-two thousand feet until further notice." ATC Clearance
Memory hook
ALTITUDE measures how ALT (high) you are. Height above sea level.
When not to use
Do not confuse altitude (aircraft height above sea level) with elevation (height of land terrain).
Fun facts
- Above 18,000 feet in North America, all pilots set altimeters to standard pressure, calling altitude Flight Levels.
Related words
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