Meaning & use
declination
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A formal refusal of an offer or invitation, or a downward slope or deviation.
See it in a sentence
He sent a polite declination of the job offer.
Sailors must adjust their compass readings for magnetic declination.
A note on using this word
Has distinct technical meanings in astronomy (a star's angular distance from the celestial equator) and navigation (the angle between magnetic and true north).
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Another way to use it
2. noun
(astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator.
Astronomers recorded the star's declination to pinpoint its position.
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