magnification

noun

mag·​ni·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce magnification (audio)
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument

called also power

Examples of magnification in a Sentence

We used a microscope to examine the cells under magnification. At higher magnifications the differences between the cells become clear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That refers to 8x magnification and 42mm diameter objective lenses. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025 For looking at the night sky, choose at least 10x42, preferably 10x50, which keeps the magnification low enough to easily navigate the night sky while allowing enough light in at night. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025 Using binoculars with more than 10x magnification without a tripod or stable support can result in blurred images because humans are simply incapable of holding them steady enough by hand. Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 20 Jan. 2025 The sweet spot for monocular magnification is 8x zoom. Matt Morris, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for magnification

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnification was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Magnification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnification. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

magnification

noun
mag·​ni·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce magnification (audio)
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument

called also power

Medical Definition

magnification

noun
mag·​ni·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce magnification (audio)
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument that is the ratio of the dimensions of an image formed by the instrument to the corresponding dimensions of the object

called also power

More from Merriam-Webster on magnification

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