optical

adjective

ˈäp-ti-kəl How to pronounce optical (audio)
Definition of opticalnext
as in optic
of, relating to, or used in vision an optical illusion that fools most people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of optical This enables observations in conditions where optical imagery may be limited. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 And in a very recent experiment, quantum optical signals in a superposition of different states of light were communicated between South Africa and China over a distance of more than 12,900 kilometers. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Disney is able to transform live gameplay into animation by combining player tracking data from the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 Next, save 39% on the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, delivering an advanced 30K optical sensor and up to 280 hours of battery life. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for optical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optical
  1. optic
  2. visual
Adjective
  • One example is optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve that can interrupt electrical signals carrying visual information from the eye to the brain.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Approximately four months after starting the medication, Engel was diagnosed with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of optic
Adjective
  • Dawson turned the feedback into a visual installation featuring hundreds of handwritten words on sticky notes representing the community's hopes and aspirations.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That setup, thanks in large part to Pask’s meticulous set-dressing, gives Crystal and his director Scott Ellis a potent visual metaphor.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of visual

Phrases Containing optical

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optic
optical
optical illusion
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Cite this Entry

“Optical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optical. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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