1. the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle; the longest side of a right triangle
Usage: geometry; mathematics

Examples

• In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is always the longest side.
• The Pythagorean theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
• If the two legs of a right triangle are 3 and 4 units, the hypotenuse is 5 units.
• Students learned to find the length of the hypotenuse using the formula a² + b² = c².
• The hypotenuse of this right triangle measures 13 centimeters.