crosshair

noun

cross·​hair ˈkrȯs-ˌher 

: a fine wire or thread in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument used as a reference line in the field or for marking the instrumental axis

—used figuratively to describe someone or something being targeted as if through an aiming device having crosshairs

The tactics landed the company's top brass in the crosshairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

—Houston Chronicle

Examples of crosshair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ironically, the commissioner in the crosshairs this time was also a member of the Federal Trade Commission. —Nina Totenberg, NPR, 9 June 2026

Organizations like ours, which sit at the intersection of history and advocacy, find themselves in the crosshairs of a culture war that casts support for LGBTQ+ rights as a liability rather than a core value. —Diana Rodriguez, Time, 8 June 2026

Panahi has long been in the crosshairs of Iran’s hardline Islamic Republic authorities. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 June 2026

ImStillDissin said hackers have the upcoming Avatar series Seven Havens in their crosshairs next and are hungrier than ever for fresh content. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crosshair

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

cross hair

noun

: one of the very thin wires or threads in the eyepiece of an optical instrument (as a microscope) used as a reference line