vertical
adjective
ver·ti·cal
ˈvər-ti-kəl 
1
a
: perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis : upright
b(1)
: located at right angles to the plane of a supporting surface
(2)
: lying in the direction of an axis : lengthwise
2
a
: situated at the highest point : directly overhead or in the zenith
b
of an aerial photograph
: taken with the camera pointing straight down or nearly so
3
a
: relating to, involving, or integrating economic activity from basic production to point of sale
a vertical monopoly
b
: of, relating to, or comprising persons of different status
the vertical arrangement of society
4
medical
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route
vertical inheritance
… decreasing the rate of vertical transmission of HIV to the fetus by two-thirds, so that the numbers of children with the condition are diminishing.—
Cynthia B. Cohen
compare horizontal sense 3
Cynthia B. Cohen
vertical
noun
Examples of vertical in a Sentence
a shirt with vertical stripes
the vertical axis of a graph
Recent Examples on the Web
Standing out is a spacious living room wrapped in vertical fir siding, plus a dining area that connects to a minimalist kitchen upgraded with newer stainless steel appliances.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025
The team traversed steep and uneven ground, overcame vertical drops of up to 60 feet (20 meters) using rope techniques and transformed a small underground site into a temporary base.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Antonio McDyess was a tremendous vertical threat.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Australia's Airspeeder has been racing electric flyers for a while now, but so far the sporty electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft haven't had anyone in the pilot's seat.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertical
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Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025
The team traversed steep and uneven ground, overcame vertical drops of up to 60 feet (20 meters) using rope techniques and transformed a small underground site into a temporary base.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Antonio McDyess was a tremendous vertical threat.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Australia's Airspeeder has been racing electric flyers for a while now, but so far the sporty electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft haven't had anyone in the pilot's seat.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertical
Cite this Entry
“Vertical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertical. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vertical
adjective
ver·ti·cal
ˈvərt-i-kəl
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route
vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to infant
vertical inheritance
compare horizontal sense 2
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