What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
height
Example
The height of the building is 100 meters. [height: noun]
Example
She is of average height for her age. [height: noun]
Example
The plane reached a height of 10,000 feet. [height: noun]
elevation
Example
The elevation of this city is 500 meters above sea level. [elevation: noun]
Example
The drone flew at an elevation of 100 feet. [elevation: noun]
Example
The house was built at a high elevation to avoid flooding. [elevation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Height is more commonly used than elevation in everyday language. Height is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while elevation is more technical and specific to certain fields such as geography and architecture.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between height and elevation?
Elevation is more formal and technical than height. It is commonly used in scientific and technical writing, while height is used in both formal and informal contexts.