telescopic

adjective

tele·​scop·​ic ˌte-lə-ˈskä-pik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or performed with a telescope

b

: suitable for seeing or magnifying distant objects

2

: seen or discoverable only by a telescope

telescopic stars

3

: able to discern objects at a distance

4

: having parts that telescope

telescopically

ˌte-lə-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of telescopic in a Sentence

The rifle has a telescopic sight.

Recent Examples on the Web

The administration's other telescopic projects include SPHEREx, which launched in 2025 with the goal of conducting a widespread infrared spectral survey of the sky, and the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched in 2021 and now orbits the sun with a distance of one million miles from Earth. — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

Celestial pièce de résistance For most amateur and professional astronomers, Saturn is the telescopic showpiece of the night sky. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 June 2026

The telescopic handle is widened for grip, and the wheels are enlarged and made from shock-absorbent material that rolls quietly. — John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026

Suspension duties are handled by 33-mm upside-down telescopic front forks and a rear monoshock, carried over unchanged from the standard R trim. — New Atlas, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for telescopic

• allotropic
• arthroscopic
• barotropic
• cystoscopic
• endoscopic
• gyroscopic
• hygroscopic
• isentropic
• isotopic
• isotropic
• macroscopic
• microscopic

Kids Definition

telescopic

adjective

tele·​scop·​ic ˌtel-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or performed with a telescope

2

: seen or discoverable only by a telescope

telescopic stars

3

: able to discern objects at a distance

telescopic vision

4

: having parts that telescope

telescopically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb