line of sight

noun phrase

1

: a line from an observer's eye to a distant point

2

: the line between two points

specifically : the straight path between a transmitting antenna (as for radio or television signals) and a receiving antenna when unobstructed by the horizon

Examples of line of sight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a clear line of sight to a tower, some providers offer speeds up to 1 Gbps. —Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

Saturn rotates on an axis tilted by 27 degrees, much as Earth does, so every 14-and-a-half years — half of its 29-year orbit — the planet’s tilt aligns the rings with the line of sight from Earth. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025

Unfortunately, skywatchers in the northern hemisphere — North America, along with parts of Asia, India and South America — won’t be in the eclipse's line of sight this time. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025

Link 16 was only able to close a radio link with a clear line of sight. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for line of sight

• actinolite
• adipocyte
• amphibolite
• anorthosite
• anthophyllite
• aragonite
• carbonatite
• cassiterite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite
• dithionite

Medical Definition

line of sight

noun

1

: a line from an observer's eye to a distant point

2

: line of vision