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

Several countries have put themselves in the crosshairs of political debates regarding their team jerseys, and in some cases FIFA has been forced to intervene. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 June 2026

There's a useful crosshair feature too for FPS battles, and a DLP turbo feature for improved performance during gaming, at the expense of certain settings like auto correction and 3D features being disabled. — Paul Ridden june 22, New Atlas, 22 June 2026

In just a matter of months, Newsom again could find himself in the political crosshairs. — Katie King, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

Palmetto General and other South Florida hospitals are caught in the crosshairs of a legal showdown between two health executives that began earlier this year and is getting messier. — Michelle Marchante june 19, Miami Herald, 19 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