myopia

noun

my·​o·​pia mī-ˈō-pē-ə 

1

: a condition in which the visual images come to a focus (see focus entry 1 sense 4) in front of the retina of the eye resulting especially in defective vision of distant objects : nearsightedness

She wears glasses to correct her myopia.

2

: a lack of foresight or discernment : a narrow view of something

… those require long-term commitments, which in our current myopia we cannot take on.

—Adam Smith

Examples of myopia in a Sentence

She wears eyeglasses to correct her myopia.

Recent Examples on the Web

Establish standards—unit economics, retention, order intake, cash conversion—and discourage short-term EPS guidance that perpetuates the very myopia this reform aims to address. — Kunal Kapoor, Fortune, 5 May 2026

Still, some laboratories are already experimenting with how exposure to or filtering of certain colors of light might subtly change the progression of myopia. — K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2026

The best prevention for myopia is not an app or a screen filter. — John La Puma, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026

For years, scientists have been puzzled by the different ways myopia is triggered. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek myōpia, from myōp-, myōps

First Known Use

circa 1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for myopia

• amblyopia
• cornucopia
• hyperopia
• atropia
• cecropia
• diplopia
• dystopia
• utopia
• hypermetropia

Kids Definition

myopia

noun

my·​o·​pia mī-ˈō-pē-ə 

1

: the condition of being nearsighted

2

: a lack of foresight : a narrow view of something

myopic

-ˈō-pik  -ˈäp-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

myopia

noun

my·​o·​pia mī-ˈō-pē-ə 

: a condition in which the visual images come to a focus in front of the retina of the eye because of defects in the refractive media of the eye or of abnormal length of the eyeball resulting especially in defective vision of distant objects

called also nearsightedness

compare astigmatism sense 2, emmetropia