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

… in the crosshairs this political season

—J. H. Alter

Examples of crosshair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More: Anti-Defamation League calls Trump administration Harvard reprimand an 'overreach' The schools have also been in the administration's crosshairs over issues such as DEI, climate initiatives and transgender policies. —Nate Raymond, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

More than five million student loan borrowers are in the Department of Education’s crosshairs after the Trump administration announced new collections efforts targeting those in default on their federal student loans earlier this week. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Clean air isn’t the only ‘70s-era policy in the Trump administration’s crosshairs. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Budapest's annual Pride Parade, one of Europe's largest, is now in the Hungarian government's crosshairs. —Rob Schmitz, NPR, 20 Apr. 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