What is the term for the distance east or west of the prime meridian?

The correct term for the distance measured east or west of the prime meridian is longitude. Longitude lines run vertically around the globe, with the prime meridian serving as the starting point. These lines are used to define specific geographic locations in conjunction with latitude, which measures distances north or south of the equator. Longitude is expressed in degrees, with values ranging from 0° at the prime meridian to 180° east and west.

Latitude, on the other hand, relates to north-south positioning and does not indicate east or west directions. Altitude refers to the height of an object in relation to sea level and is unrelated to the geographical coordinates of a location. Geodetic aspects are more concerned with the earth's shape and size but do not specifically denote distance from the prime meridian. Thus, longitude is indeed the accurate term for the distance east or west of the prime meridian.