bi·fo·cal
ˈbī-ˌfō-kəl 
1
: having two focal lengths
2
: having one part that corrects for near vision and one for distant vision
a bifocal eyeglass lens
1
bifocals plural
: eyeglasses with bifocal lenses
2
: a bifocal glass or lens
Examples of bifocal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
The company also has bifocal and prescription options for most of their frames.
—Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023
Banks’s own vision was miraculously bifocal.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2023
To train a bifocal vision on both the thing and its shadow is an act of respect that begins to undo fear of the unknown.
—Maggie Lange, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
There are eyes with mirrors, eyes with optical fibres, and eyes with bifocal lenses.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing bifocal glasses.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
Some other bifocal contact lenses, prescribed off-label, work about as well as the new CooperVision product, Walline’s research has found.
—Fortune, 12 Jan. 2022
Patients who need help focusing at different distances (say, were nearsighted but were also developing presbyopia) were once relegated to bifocal glasses or the more seamless progressive lenses.
—Alexandra Ossola, Quartz, 15 Sep. 2021
Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023
Minnie Bottoms wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2019
Through his bifocals, Trout looks aghast at that news.
—Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, 9 July 2019
In the film, Khan blames Kirk for the death of his wife and seeks to destroy the Enterprise’s enterprising leader, who’s now a Starfleet admiral contemplating bifocals.
—René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 19 June 2018
Even so, in the Wayne County of the future, silver hair and bifocals will proliferate.
—Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2018
Besides his contribution to science, Franklin is known for inventing the Franklin stove, bifocals and the glass armonica, Davis said.
—Rosemarie Dowell, OrlandoSentinel.com, 31 Jan. 2018
But the days of popping reading glasses on and off or constantly shifting your gaze through bifocals may be numbered.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 9 Feb. 2017
Strumming a shiny acoustic guitar, the winsome memaw launches into her parody rendition, weaving hearing aids, retirement, RVs, bifocals and more into the three-minute lyrical journey.
—Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2017
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Adjective
Its bifocal lens gives it two eyes for the price of one.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
The company also has bifocal and prescription options for most of their frames.
—Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023
Banks’s own vision was miraculously bifocal.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2023
To train a bifocal vision on both the thing and its shadow is an act of respect that begins to undo fear of the unknown.
—Maggie Lange, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
There are eyes with mirrors, eyes with optical fibres, and eyes with bifocal lenses.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
Benjamin Franklin is credited with inventing bifocal glasses.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2011
Some other bifocal contact lenses, prescribed off-label, work about as well as the new CooperVision product, Walline’s research has found.
—Fortune, 12 Jan. 2022
Patients who need help focusing at different distances (say, were nearsighted but were also developing presbyopia) were once relegated to bifocal glasses or the more seamless progressive lenses.
—Alexandra Ossola, Quartz, 15 Sep. 2021
Noun
Leah Wright, 56, a public school bus driver, came to see Presley speak in Biloxi last week wearing bifocals that were twisted and missing an arm.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023
Minnie Bottoms wears old bifocals that make her mix up kings and jacks, often to her opponents’ dismay.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2019
Through his bifocals, Trout looks aghast at that news.
—Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, 9 July 2019
In the film, Khan blames Kirk for the death of his wife and seeks to destroy the Enterprise’s enterprising leader, who’s now a Starfleet admiral contemplating bifocals.
—René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 19 June 2018
Even so, in the Wayne County of the future, silver hair and bifocals will proliferate.
—Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2018
Besides his contribution to science, Franklin is known for inventing the Franklin stove, bifocals and the glass armonica, Davis said.
—Rosemarie Dowell, OrlandoSentinel.com, 31 Jan. 2018
But the days of popping reading glasses on and off or constantly shifting your gaze through bifocals may be numbered.
—Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 9 Feb. 2017
Strumming a shiny acoustic guitar, the winsome memaw launches into her parody rendition, weaving hearing aids, retirement, RVs, bifocals and more into the three-minute lyrical journey.
—Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bifocal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near bifocal
Cite this Entry
“Bifocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bifocal. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
bifocal
1 of 2 adjective
bi·fo·cal
(ˈ)bī-ˈfō-kəl
: having two focal lengths
bifocal
2 of 2 noun1
: 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 noun1
: a bifocal glass or lens
2
bifocals plural
: eyeglasses with bifocal lenses
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