This page serves as a dictionary and reference guide for the term “antipode”, including its definition, origin, usage, and geographic meaning.
An antipode is the point on Earth that lies directly opposite another location, connected through the planet’s center. In geography, antipodes are used to describe pairs of places positioned on exact opposite sides of the globe — meaning when it is midday at one point, it is midnight at its antipode. The term also appears in science, navigation, and everyday language to describe complete opposites. This Antipode Dictionary provides clear definitions, explanations, and examples of antipodes, antipodal points, and related geographic concepts, alongside tools that help you calculate, visualise, and explore the opposite side of the world.
Antipode Dictionary
A curated reference to the key terms, meanings, and concepts behind antipodes — from definitions and geography to maps and calculations.
ANTIPODE FAQ
Where does the word “antipode” come from?
The word originates from Ancient Greek, combining anti (opposite) and pous (foot), literally meaning “with feet opposite.”
Is antipode used outside of geography?
Yes. Antipode is used in literature, philosophy, and everyday language to describe ideas, cultures, or qualities that stand in complete contrast to one another.
Does the dictionary meaning of antipode always imply precision?
In technical geography, yes. In everyday language, antipode is often used figuratively to describe strong opposites rather than exact positions.
What is the dictionary definition of an antipode?
In its strictest definition, an antipode is a point on the Earth’s surface that lies exactly opposite another point, passing through the planet’s centre. The term is also used more broadly to describe something that is the complete opposite of something else.
Is “antipode” a noun, adjective, or both?
Antipode is primarily a noun. Related forms such as antipodal function as adjectives, while antipodes is the plural noun form.
What does “antipodes” mean in formal usage?
Antipodes refers to a pair of opposite points on a sphere, most commonly the Earth. In historical and cultural contexts, it has also been used to describe distant lands on the opposite side of the world.
What is the difference between “antipode” and “opposite”?
Opposite is a general term describing contrast or reversal. Antipode is more precise, referring either to exact geographic opposition or to a complete conceptual contrast.
What does “antipodal” mean?
Antipodal describes things that are positioned at antipodes or that are diametrically opposed in nature, position, or meaning.
