bifocal

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

Blond hair in braids, bifocals firmly in place, a wide-open smile displaying a hatchwork of braces on wayward teeth. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

Benjamin Franklin would invent bifocals in 1874, Thomas Young would spot the uneven curvature of the cornea (astigmatism) in 1801, and steel wire would be developed in metal frames after 1837. —Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 11 Nov. 2025

Others may use bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses, which adjust magnification for both near and distant vision. —Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2025

For example, bifocals correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness with the same lens. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bifocal

1 of 2 adjective

bi·​fo·​cal (ˈ)bī-ˈfō-kəl 

: 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 

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