magnification
noun
mag·ni·fi·ca·tion
ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
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
For planetary observing, refractor telescopes, Dobsonians, Schmidt-Cassegrains, and Maksutov-Cassegrains boast long focal lengths and can accommodate eyepieces that offer high magnifications.
—
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Those specifications refer to magnification power and lens diameter.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
The 7x50 configuration offers a wide, bright field of view that’s forgiving for handheld use, while 10x50 binoculars provide slightly more magnification with the same 50mm objective lens for solid light gathering.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The 7x50 offers a wide, bright field of view that’s forgiving for handheld use, while 10x50 provides slightly more magnification with the same 50mm objective lens for solid light gathering.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnification
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Jamie Carter, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Those specifications refer to magnification power and lens diameter.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2026
The 7x50 configuration offers a wide, bright field of view that’s forgiving for handheld use, while 10x50 binoculars provide slightly more magnification with the same 50mm objective lens for solid light gathering.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The 7x50 offers a wide, bright field of view that’s forgiving for handheld use, while 10x50 provides slightly more magnification with the same 50mm objective lens for solid light gathering.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnification
Cite this Entry
“Magnification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnification. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnification
noun
mag·ni·fi·ca·tion
ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən
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
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
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