focal

adjective

fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or having a focus
focally
ˈfō-kə-lē How to pronounce focal (audio)
adverb

Examples of focal in a Sentence

a focal figure in the movement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Strokes of the basal ganglia can cause highly focal damage which results in dysfunction of the dopamine circuitry. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 The team played bass-heavy electronic music while slowly moving a microphone through and around the focal region to evaluate both sound quality and confinement. — New Atlas, 14 June 2026 At age 2, he was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease, and underwent two kidney transplants as a child. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 26 May 2026 Mustard Made puts a whimsical spin on bathroom storage by offering a dozen colors to transform a utilitarian cabinet into a focal piece. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for focal

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of focal was in 1676

Phrases Containing focal

Rhymes for focal

See All Rhymes for focal

Browse Nearby Words

focaccia
focal
focal area
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Focal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

focal

adjective
fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, or having a focus
focally
-kə-lē How to pronounce focal (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

focal

adjective
fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or having a focus
focally
-kə-lē How to pronounce focal (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on focal

Nglish: Translation of focal for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All