horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzän-tᵊl 
ˌhär-
1
2
: relating to, directed toward, or consisting of individuals or entities of similar status or on the same level
horizontal mergers
horizontal hostility
3
medical
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by physical contact or proximity in contrast with inheritance
Genes are normally inherited from parents, but they can also be inserted into a genome by viruses, plasmids, and other foreign agents—a phenomenon called horizontal transfer.—
Stephan Reebs
compare vertical sense 4
Stephan Reebs
horizontal
noun
Examples of horizontal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My guess is that, after all these years, the horizontal pipe had filled with water, rendering the vent useless.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
Back in his day, Neutra rubbed shoulders with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler, whose influences are recognizable through his use of clean, horizontal lines and how these structures blend into nature.
—Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
Unlike the lower headlights with a separate horizontal daytime running lamp that debuted on the KL generation, the Cherokee has more rectangular headlamps surrounded by the running lamps flanking the upright grille in a look similar to the Recon.
—Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The upper features a simplistic design with a horizontal strap across the toes and slender ankle strap.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for horizontal
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Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
Back in his day, Neutra rubbed shoulders with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler, whose influences are recognizable through his use of clean, horizontal lines and how these structures blend into nature.
—Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
Unlike the lower headlights with a separate horizontal daytime running lamp that debuted on the KL generation, the Cherokee has more rectangular headlamps surrounded by the running lamps flanking the upright grille in a look similar to the Recon.
—Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The upper features a simplistic design with a horizontal strap across the toes and slender ankle strap.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for horizontal
Cite this Entry
“Horizontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horizontal. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzänt-ᵊl, ˌhär-
1
: relating to or being a transverse plane or section of the body
2
a
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by physical contact or proximity in contrast with inheritance compare vertical
b
: of or relating to horizontal gene transfer
Legal Definition
horizontal
adjective
hor·i·zon·tal
ˌhȯr-ə-ˈzän-təl, ˌhär-
: relating to, directed toward, or consisting of individuals or entities of similar status or on the same level
horizontally
adverb
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