Mathematical geometric shapes are mathematical figures that represent the shapes of everyday objects. The geometry of shapes is the study of objects with boundaries, angles, and surfaces. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes are both studied.
Similarly, shapes are classified according to their regularity or uniformity. A regular shape is usually symmetrical, such as a square or circle. Asymmetrical shapes are irregular shapes. They are also called organic shapes or freeform shapes. Trees, for example, have irregular shapes.
Two-dimensional shapes in plane geometry are flat shapes and closed figures such as circles, squares, rectangles, rhombuses, etc. Three-dimensional shapes in solid geometry are the cube, cuboid, cone, sphere, and cylinder. Several of these shapes are familiar to us in daily life. For example, books have a cuboid shape, glasses have a cylindrical shape, traffic cones have a conical shape, etc. You will learn about different geometric shapes and their definitions in this article.
Geometric Shapes: Definition
Objects can be represented by geometric shapes, which are geometrical figures. Three-dimensional shapes are sometimes two-dimensional, and sometimes two-dimensional. The two-dimensional figures lie only on the x- and y-axes, but 3D shapes lie on the x, y, and z axes. This is the height of the object on the z-axis. In geometry, different shapes are defined. We have previously discussed this in the introduction.

Any of these figures can be drawn or designed by starting with a line, a line segment, or a curve. We can generate different types of figures and shapes by arranging these lines in different ways, such as a triangle, a figure made up of connected segments of three lines, a Pentagon made up of five lines, and so on. But not all figures are complete figures.
Types of Geometric Shapes
It is considered an open geometric shape when an object or a shape does not have both ends connected. Objects or shapes that are connected at both ends are defined as closed geometric shapes. There are two types of closed geometric shapes:
- Geometric shapes in two dimensions: These are two-dimensional shapes with only x- and y-axes. They are flat, two-dimensional structures. Examples include triangles, squares, rectangles, etc.
- Three-dimensional geometric shapes: These are 3D shapes that have an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. This is the height of the object on the z-axis. They are solid, three-dimensional structures. They may be cubes or cuboids, for example.
To draw any of these figures, we must start with a line, a curve, or a line segment. Thus, based on the number and arrangement of the lines, we can make various shapes and figures, for example, by joining four-line segments, a rectangle appears. By joining three-line segments, a triangle appears, and so on.
List Of Two Dimensional Geometric Shapes
- Triangle
- Circle
- Semi-Circle
- Square
- Rectangle
- Parallelogram
- Rhombus
- Trapezium
- Kite
- Polygons (Pentagon, Hexagon, Octagon, Nonagon, Decagon, etc.)

Let us take a look at the five basic 2-dimensional geometric shapes.
Triangle: A triangle is a closed two-dimensional geometric shape with three sides. As an example, a slice of pizza in the shape of nachos.
Square: A square is a two-dimensional geometric shape with four equal sides. The shapes of a chessboard and a carrom board, for instance.
Rectangle: A rectangle is a four-sided, two-dimensional geometric shape whose opposite sides are equal in length. Computer screens are examples of rectangles.
Circle: A circle is a closed two-dimensional geometric figure whose shape is round. Circles do not have corners or lines. For example, pizza base, wheel.
Oval: An oval is similar to a circle but its shape is slightly elongated. An oval has no straight lines or corners. For example, the number zero (0).
List Of Three Dimensional Geometric Shapes
- Sphere
- Cube
- Cuboid
- Cone
- Cylinder

Let us learn about the six basic 3-dimensional geometric shapes.
Cube: A cube is a 3D geometric shape, made up of six squares of equal sides. For example, a ludo dice, a Rubik’s cube
Cuboid: A cuboid is a 3D geometric shape that is formed by six rectangles. For example, a book, a box
Cylinder: As a geometric shape, a cylinder has two identical circular flat ends that are solid in three dimensions. For example, a can of cooldrink or a pool noodle.
Sphere: A sphere is a solid 3D geometric shape that looks like a ball. For example, football, basketball, etc.
Hemisphere: A hemisphere is a geometric shape that is half of a sphere. For example, Soup bowls.
Cone: Cones are geometrical 3D shapes that have a flat circular base and a rounded top called an apex. For example, ice cream cones and clown hats.
Examples of 2D Geometric Shapes In Everyday Life
Two-dimensional shapes are flat figures with width and height, but no depth. A rectangular shape, a square, a triangle, or a circle is a type of 2D geometric shape. Check out a list of different 2D geometric shapes, along with descriptions and examples of how to spot them.
These are all flat shapes without depth. Therefore, you can still determine the shape of these objects with a picture. This is not true of three-dimensional shapes.
Circle Examples
A circle is a rounded shape with the same radius from a fixed point in the center. Some examples of real circles are:
- Pizza Pies
- Cookies
- Wheels Of A Bike
- Clock Faces
- Dinner Plates
Square Examples
Four equal straight sides with four right angles make a square. Some real-life examples of squares are:
- Square Rubber Stamps
- Square Tiles On The Floor
- Square Paper Napkins
- Chess Boards
- Virtual Keyboard Keys
Triangle Examples
A triangle is a three-sided figure with straight sides. There are many different kinds of triangles, depending on their angle. These are some examples of triangles in real life:
- Pizza slices
- Sliced diagonally, a sandwich
- Chips made from tortillas
- A Boat Sails
- A yield sign tells drivers to yield
Rectangle Examples
Rectangles have four straight sides with four right angles, just like squares. However, two sides are shorter than the others. Check out examples like these:
- Covers of chapter books
- Smartphones
- Frames for pictures
- The Dollar Bill
- Icing Cream Sandwiches
Pentagon Examples
An equal-length five-sided shape is a pentagon. Quadrilaterals have four sides, and they are more common than octagons, but they are still found in nature. Examples of pentagons include:
- The Pentagon Building
- Soccer Balls With Black Sections
- Baseball’s home plate
- Crossing signs for traffic
Hexagon Examples
Hexagons are formed by adding one side to a pentagon. They have six straight sides of equal length. Take a look at these examples:
- Ice Crystals
- Snowflakes
- Beehive Cells
- Outline Of A Metal Nut
- White Sections On Soccer Balls
Octagon Examples
The shape of an octagon is formed by eight straight sides, typically of equal length. You are more likely to find them in everyday life than you think. Here are a few examples:
- Stop Signs
- Open Umbrellas
- UFC Ring
- Poker Tables
Trapezoid Examples
A trapezoid is a four-sided figure with just one pair of parallel sides. You can find trapezoids in the following examples:
- The Trusses On Bridges
- Some Handbag Sides
- A Half-eaten Piece Of Pizza
- Musical Dulcimer
Examples of 3D Geometric Shapes
A three-dimensional shape has length, width, and thickness, unlike two-dimensional shapes. Shapes in three dimensions include pyramids, spheres, and cubicles. Take a look at these everyday 3D geometric shapes.
Several of these shapes are interchangeable, of course. There are certainly circular bags and other types of bags that are not necessarily parallelograms. There are also many other two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometric shapes not included in this list.
Sphere Examples
A sphere is a solid figure that is round. In addition, each point on a sphere is equidistant from the radius in the center. They possess volume, but not depth, unlike circles. Here are some examples:
- Basketballs
- Planets
- Oranges
- Marbles
- Tennis Balls
Cube Examples
The six faces of a cube are all squares. They create depth when arranged as a 3D cube, also called a square prism. A cube can include the following:
- Six-sided Dice
- Sugar Cubes
- Square Building Blocks
- Rubix Cubes
- Square Packing Boxes
Cone Examples
The base of a cone tapers to a single point. A cone is found in many everyday items, such as:
- Traffic Cones
- Waffle Ice Cream Cones
- Party Hats
- Christmas Trees
- Funnels
Cylinder Examples
Cylinders are three-dimensional figures with parallel sides and circular cross-sections. They can be found in real-life situations like these:
- Tubes made of cardboard for paper towels
- Pipes that are straight
- Glasses for drinking
- Tubes for Chapstick
- Cans
Ellipsoid Examples
Having been flattened on both sides, an ellipsoid is not perfectly round. A spheroid, also known as an ellipsoid, creates an oval shape in 3D. Examples of ellipsoids include:
- Footballs
- Eggs
- Some of Saturn’s satellite moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys)
Rectangular Prism Examples
An abstract object made of two opposites with the same form and connected by parallel straight sides is a rectangular prism. These prisms have four rectangles and two squares. Rectangular prisms are found in the following examples:
- Sticks Of Butter
- Bricks
- Cameras
- Cereal Boxes
- Rectangular Packing Boxes
Triangular Prism
Triangular prisms resemble rectangular prisms, except that their square faces are triangles, making them three-sided prisms. Real-life examples of triangular prisms include:
- Tents
- Wedges Of Watermelon
- Wedges Of Cheese
- Slices Of Cake
Pyramid Examples
The pyramid is a three-dimensional figure whose sides meet at a point and which has one flat side. Any three-sided shape is possible, including triangles (triangular pyramids), squares (square pyramids), and pentagons (pentagonal pyramids). Some examples are:
- The Great Pyramid Of Giza
- The Roof Of A House
- Some Free-standing Cheese Graters
- Glass Lourve Pyramid
FAQs
What are examples of geometric shapes?
Geometric shapes include squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, ovals, pentagons, and so on.
What is a geometric shape?
Mathematical shapes are geometric shapes. They are regular and perfect. Points, lines, and angles make up a mathematical shape. A perfect circle is an exception to this rule since it has no straight lines or points. Other geometric shapes include squares, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, hexagons, etc.
How many types of geometrical shapes are there?
There are two types of geometric shapes: two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D). The former can be drawn by referring to the X and Y axes, while the latter also includes the Z-axis. 2D shapes and figures are mainly composed of points and connecting lines.
What are the 5 basic shapes?
Basic shapes include square, rectangle, circle, oval, triangle, and diamond, which are the most common shapes your child will encounter.
What are the main geometric concepts?
- Points, Lines, Planes, and Angles
- Proof
- Perpendicular and parallel
- Triangles
- Similarity
- Right triangles and trigonometry
- Quadrilaterals
- Transformations
What are the 2 types of shapes called?
Geometric shapes and free-form shapes are two types of shapes. Geometric shapes are precise shapes that can be described by mathematical formulas. Geometric shapes include circles, squares, triangles, ovals, rectangles, octagons, parallelograms, trapezoids, pentagons, and hexagons.