What does easting mean?
An easting is a coordinate that expresses how far east a point lies from a designated north–south reference line within a grid system. It is fundamental to modern map work: in the British National Grid, for example, any location can be specified by pairing its easting with its northing, the corresponding measure of distance north. Surveyors, geographers, hikers, and military navigators all rely on eastings when recording positions or communicating grid references. The term is technical rather than everyday, but it follows a simple logic — the larger the easting value, the further east the point. Because it belongs to a family of precisely defined cartographic terms, using 'easting' correctly signals familiarity with professional map-reading practice. It is most often encountered in plural form ('eastings') on map legends and in coordinate readouts from GPS devices.
nounThe distance eastward from a north–south reference line or meridian, used as one coordinate in a grid system such as those in surveying and map reading. In the British National Grid and similar systems, it is paired with a 'northing' to specify an exact location.
- The easterly component of a location in a plane coordinate grid system, measured as the distance east of a designated north–south reference line (used chiefly in surveying, cartography, and navigation).
"The surveyor recorded the monument's easting and northing so the site could be relocated precisely on the map."
"Read off the easting first, then the northing, to give the full grid reference for the campsite."
"The GPS receiver reported an easting of 432,100 metres within the UTM zone."
The plural is standard when referring to the set of vertical grid lines on a map, each labelled with its easting value, or to coordinate values generally.
"The eastings are printed along the top and bottom edges of the Ordnance Survey sheet."
Every point on a British Ordnance Survey map can be pinned down by just two numbers — and the one that says 'how far east' is called the easting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of easting
The word 'easting' is formed straightforwardly from 'east', which derives from Old English 'ēast', combined with the suffix '-ing'. It emerged as part of the vocabulary of surveying and cartography, paralleling the formation of its companion term 'northing' from 'north'. Both terms became established as grid-based coordinate systems replaced earlier methods of describing position by bearings and distances alone, particularly through the work of national survey organisations such as Britain's Ordnance Survey.
How easting is actually used
A technical term used almost exclusively in surveying, cartography, orienteering, and military navigation. It always appears alongside its counterpart 'northing'; conventionally the easting is quoted before the northing when giving a full grid reference. In the British National Grid, easting values increase eastward; in UTM coordinates they are called 'eastings' as well.
Easily confused with easting
Feasting means eating lavishly in celebration, whereas easting is a surveying coordinate measuring distance east of a reference line.
Easing refers to making something less severe or difficult, while easting denotes an eastward grid distance in mapping.