bifocal

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​fo·​cal ˈbī-ˌfō-kəl How to pronounce bifocal (audio)
1
: having two focal lengths
2
: having one part that corrects for near vision and one for distant vision
a bifocal eyeglass lens

bifocal

2 of 2

noun

1
bifocals plural : eyeglasses with bifocal lenses
2
: a bifocal glass or lens

Examples of bifocal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Its bifocal lens gives it two eyes for the price of one. Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011 The company also has bifocal and prescription options for most of their frames. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023 Banks’s own vision was miraculously bifocal. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2023 To train a bifocal vision on both the thing and its shadow is an act of respect that begins to undo fear of the unknown. Maggie Lange, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023 There are eyes with mirrors, eyes with optical fibres, and eyes with bifocal lenses. Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011 Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing bifocal glasses. Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011 Some other bifocal contact lenses, prescribed off-label, work about as well as the new CooperVision product, Walline’s research has found. Fortune, 12 Jan. 2022 Patients who need help focusing at different distances (say, were nearsighted but were also developing presbyopia) were once relegated to bifocal glasses or the more seamless progressive lenses. Alexandra Ossola, Quartz, 15 Sep. 2021
Noun
These space glasses aren't much like your grandma's bifocals. Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2010 That's the condition that causes people with good eyes to pick up reading glasses, and those with glasses to turn to bifocals. Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2010 Leah Wright, 56, a public school bus driver, came to see Presley speak in Biloxi last week wearing bifocals that were twisted and missing an arm. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023 Minnie Bottoms wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2019 Through his bifocals, Trout looks aghast at that news. Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, 9 July 2019 In the film, Khan blames Kirk for the death of his wife and seeks to destroy the Enterprise’s enterprising leader, who’s now a Starfleet admiral contemplating bifocals. René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 19 June 2018 Even so, in the Wayne County of the future, silver hair and bifocals will proliferate. Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2018 Besides his contribution to science, Franklin is known for inventing the Franklin stove, bifocals and the glass armonica, Davis said. Rosemarie Dowell, OrlandoSentinel.com, 31 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bifocal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

Adjective

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bifocal was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near bifocal

Cite this Entry

“Bifocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bifocal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bifocal

1 of 2 adjective
bi·​fo·​cal (ˈ)bī-ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce bifocal (audio)
: having two focal lengths

bifocal

2 of 2 noun
1
: a bifocal glass or lens
2
plural : eyeglasses with bifocal lenses that correct for both near vision and distant vision

Medical Definition

bifocal

1 of 2 adjective
bi·​fo·​cal (ˈ)bī-ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce bifocal (audio)
1
: having two focal lengths
2
: having one part that corrects for near vision and one for distant vision
a bifocal eyeglass lens

bifocal

2 of 2 noun
1
: a bifocal glass or lens
2
bifocals plural : eyeglasses with bifocal lenses
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