Location vs. Position: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Location refers to a specific place or area, while position denotes a particular spot within a reference system or context.
Key Differences
Location typically denotes a specific place or area, often defined by geographic or spatial characteristics. Position, on the other hand, refers to an object's or person's place in relation to other things, often within a particular system or context. While location is more about the 'where' in a broader sense, position is about the 'where' in a specific setting or framework.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
In the context of geography, location is used to identify a particular area, like a city on a map. Position, however, can refer to the exact coordinates of a place within that location, such as a street address in the city. Location is thus a broader term, while position is more precise and often used in technical or specific contexts.
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Nov 14, 2023
Location can be understood in terms of relative or absolute terms, like being located near a landmark. Position is often used in more technical terms, like the exact bearing or orientation of an object. The concept of location is more flexible, whereas position tends to be more fixed and precise.
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Nov 14, 2023
In everyday language, location is commonly used to describe where something is generally found, while position is used when specific details are important. For instance, someone might ask for the location of a restaurant (general area) but need the position of a table within the restaurant (specific spot).
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Nov 14, 2023
Finally, in the digital world, location often refers to the physical place where something exists (like server location), whereas position could refer to the place of an element within a digital space, such as the position of an icon on a screen. Both terms, while related, have distinct uses based on the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A specific place or area.
A specific spot within a reference system.
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Nov 14, 2023
Example in Language
"The location of the city."
"The position of a star in the sky."
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Nov 14, 2023
In Technology
Physical place (like server location).
Placement within a system (like icon position on screen).
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Nov 14, 2023
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Location and Position Definitions
Position
A place where someone or something is located or has been put.
The position of the vase on the shelf caught everyone's attention.
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Location
A setting or environment for a film or event.
They chose a beautiful beach as the location for their wedding.
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Nov 14, 2023
Location
A place or area where something exists or is situated.
The location of the ancient ruins was discovered recently.
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Position
The right or appropriate place
The bands are in position for the parade's start.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
The act of locating or being located.
The location of new retail stores is crucial for business success.
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Nov 14, 2023
Position
A strategic area occupied by members of a force
The troops took up positions along the river.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
A position or site occupied by something.
The exact location of the buried treasure remains a mystery.
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Nov 14, 2023
Position
The way in which something is placed
The position of the clock's hands.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
A specific place within a larger context.
The library's location in the city center makes it easily accessible.
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Nov 14, 2023
Location
The act or process of locating
Location of the lost hikers took two days.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
In ballet, any of the five arrangements of the arms and feet in which the legs are turned out from the pelvis.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
An advantageous place or location
Jockeys maneuvering for position.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
A site away from a studio at which part or all of a movie is shot
Filming a Western on location in the Mexican desert.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
A situation as it relates to the surrounding circumstances
In a position to bargain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
A point of view or attitude on a certain question
The mayor's position on taxes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
(South Africa) An apartheid-era urban area populated by non-white people; township.
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Position
The arrangement of the pieces or cards at any particular time in a game such as chess, checkers, or bridge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
A contract for the use of a thing, or service of a person, for hire.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
The marking out of the boundaries, or identifying the place or site of, a piece of land, according to the description given in an entry, plan, map, etc
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
(Kenya) An administrative region in Kenya, below counties and subcounties, and further divided into sublocations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
A commitment to buy or sell a given amount of securities or commodities.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
The amount of securities or commodities held by a person, firm, or institution.
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Oct 19, 2023
Location
A determination of the location of something;
He got a good fix on the target
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Position
A status or rank.
Chief of Staff is the second-highest position in the army.
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Position
An opinion, stand, or stance.
My position on this issue is unchanged.
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Position
(figurative) A situation suitable to perform some action.
The school is not in a position to provide day-care after 4:00 pm.
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Position
(team sports) A place on the playing field, together with a set of duties, assigned to a player.
Stop running all over the field and play your position!
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Position
(finance) An amount of securities, commodities, or other financial instruments held by a person, firm, or institution.
Long position
Naked position
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Position
(finance) A commitment, or a group of commitments, such as options or futures, to buy or sell a given amount of financial instruments, such as securities, currencies or commodities, for a given price.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
(arithmetic) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; also called the rule of trial and error.
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Position
The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position.
We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position; to appear in a false position.
Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; - called also the rule of trial and error.
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
The particular portion of space occupied by a physical object;
He put the lamp back in its place
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Position
A way of regarding situations or topics etc.;
Consider what follows from the positivist view
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
Position or arrangement of the body and its limbs;
He assumed an attitude of surrender
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Position
The relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society;
He had the status of a minor
The novel attained the status of a classic
Atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
The spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated;
The position of the hands on the clock
He specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
(in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player;
What position does he play?
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Position
A condition or position in which you find yourself;
The unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils
Found herself in a very fortunate situation
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Position
An item on a list or in a sequence;
In the second place
Moved from third to fifth position
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Position
An opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute;
There are two sides to every question
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Position
The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another;
Can you go in my stead?
Took his place
In lieu of
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Position
Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point
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Oct 19, 2023
Position
A particular way in which someone or something is placed or arranged.
The yoga instructor demonstrated the correct position for the pose.
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Nov 14, 2023
Position
A point in a system or scale, such as a ranking or hierarchy.
She earned a position in the top ten of her graduating class.
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Position
The stance or attitude taken regarding a particular issue.
His position on environmental issues is well-known.
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Nov 14, 2023
Position
A role, job, or status in a society or organization.
He accepted a position as a manager at the new company.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is location used in geography?
It identifies a particular area, like a city or country.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is position always precise?
Usually, position is used when precision is important.
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Nov 14, 2023
Does position imply a ranking?
It can, like in a social or organizational hierarchy.
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Nov 14, 2023
What does position indicate in navigation?
It shows the exact coordinates or bearing of a place or object.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can location be relative?
Yes, it can be described relative to other landmarks or areas.
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Nov 14, 2023
How does position relate to orientation?
It often includes information about direction or alignment.
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Nov 14, 2023
What does position mean?
Position refers to a particular spot or place within a reference system.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is a GPS location a type of location?
Yes, it’s a specific geographic location.
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Nov 14, 2023
Does location have to be physical?
Not always, it can refer to virtual or conceptual places too.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is location broader than position?
Generally, location is broader, and position is more specific.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can location refer to a setting for events?
Yes, like a movie location or event venue.
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Nov 14, 2023
How is location important in marketing?
It's crucial for targeting and reaching the right audience.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can position be used in digital contexts?
Yes, like the position of an element on a computer screen.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can location be virtual?
Yes, like the location of a file in a computer system.
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Nov 14, 2023
What is an example of a location in business?
The location of a company's headquarters.
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Nov 14, 2023
What does position mean in debate?
It refers to a stance or argument in a discussion.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is a job title a type of position?
Yes, it's a role or status within an organization.
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Nov 14, 2023
What is a positional system?
A system where placement or arrangement is key, like in mathematics.
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Nov 14, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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