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

Meta back in the antitrust crosshairs Meta can’t get the antitrust monkey off its back. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026

World leaders will convene for talks on trade, security and geopolitical tensions, with Trump in attendance — and set to come face to face with leaders of several countries now in his tariff crosshairs. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2026

The ingrained reflex to center the crosshairs on the target and let fly takes over – and can lead to a gutshot deer or one that takes a bullet through the brisket that won’t kill it quickly. —John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026

Now, however, Brazil’s multi-billion dollar agricultural trade with Tehran could land it back in Washington’s crosshairs, Reuters reported. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 14 Jan. 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