A square is a special case of a rectangle. What is a single-word term for a rectangle that is not a square? I am looking for a word that excludes squares. I am also looking for a word that is not "rectangle".
What is the name for a rectangle that is not a square?
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$\begingroup$
geometry
terminology
definition
2 Answers
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It's called oblong. The following picture is from wikipedia.
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0An oblong includes ellipses. – 2017-02-22
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2@empty: only in botany. Not in mathematics. – 2017-02-22
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0@TonyK I don't know that *oblong* is a universally accepted math term. At large, *non-square rectangle* looks to be its very last [listed meaning](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oblong): ***Adjective*** *1. Longer than wide.* *2. Roughly rectangular or ellipsoidal.* ***Noun*** *1. Something with an oblong shape.* *2. A rectangle having length greater than width.* – 2017-02-23
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0@dxiv: The first professional dictionary I consulted ([Chambers 21st Century Dictionary](http://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=oblong&title=21st)) has non-square rectangle as the _only_ definition. – 2017-02-23
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My suggestion is : "A rectangular with two distinct sidelengths"
If you talk about one specific rectangular, you can just call it a rectangular. This usually implies that you do not mean a square because you did not name it a square.
But if you are talking about rectangulars in general, usually squares are included.
I do not know whether there is a common name.