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latitude

latitude

noun lah-tee-TOOD Rare
Travel & Places Geography

Also means

leeway, freedom of action

Usage Note

Latitude covers both its geographical sense (distance north or south of the equator) and the figurative sense of freedom or room to manoeuvre — laisser une grande latitude à quelqu'un means 'to give someone plenty of leeway'. This figurative usage is common in professional and administrative French and often surprises learners who know only the geographic meaning.

Examples

"Nous avons toute latitude pour choisir la date."

Natural Translation

We have full freedom to choose the date.

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