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

Looming over the desk is a giant cross made of yardsticks, those famous instruments of parochial-school torment, formed into a set of crosshairs. —Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026

All the while, Detective Jack Harper (Bernthal) is strangely suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Jan. 2026

However, the British press soon had her in their crosshairs. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025

Caught in the middle, Ben tries to stay out of it, but his attempts to be kind to Eli backfire horribly, putting Ben squarely in the ringleader’s crosshairs. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2025

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