monocular

1 of 2

adjective

mon·​oc·​u·​lar mä-ˈnä-kyə-lər How to pronounce monocular (audio)
mə-
1
: of, involving, or affecting a single eye
2
: suitable for use with only one eye
monocularly adverb

monocular

2 of 2

noun

: a monocular device

Examples of monocular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Eye These Up, Too: Best Night-Vision Goggles • Best Binoculars • Best Telescopes Objective Lens Diameter The viewing scope of the range finder is monocular like a telescope or spotting scope but with a smaller objective lens. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 28 Aug. 2023 In other words, this monocular telescope, which can also be paired with mobile phones for taking pictures and videos from a distance, is great for sporting events, concerts, bird watching, camping, fishing, and traveling. Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2020 With a swing-up eyepiece, this monocular telescope is perfect for anyone who regularly wears glasses or sunglasses. Popular Science, 6 Oct. 2020 Some impressive work from Giuseppe Loianno’s lab at NYU, showing cooperative aerial transport of a payload using only a monocular camera and IMU on each drone. IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2021 Roske pulled up near the home in a taxi shortly after 1 a.m. on June 8 carrying a suitcase with a gun and ammunition; a tactical chest rig with pepper spray and a knife; a flashlight; a laser; a thermal monocular and other burglary tools, according to court papers. CBS News, 27 Oct. 2022 The giant monocular octopus that invades New York. The New Yorker, 6 May 2022 Hypothetical mechanisms of transient monocular visual loss in our patient include vasoconstriction or embolism in the arterial blood supply of the eye. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2014 The only sensors used are an IMU, a forward-facing depth camera, and a downward-facing monocular camera. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023
Noun
Range fingers are specialized binoculars or monoculars. Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Ultimately, the fund went toward supplying musician-soldiers with drones, tourniquets, combat clothing, helmets, night-vision goggles, walkie-talkies, and monoculars. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2023 Inside was a necklace with a pendant: a shiny miniature monocular. Cynthia Ozick, The New Yorker, 14 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monocular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin monoculus having one eye

First Known Use

Adjective

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monocular was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near monocular

Cite this Entry

“Monocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monocular. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

monocular

adjective
mon·​oc·​u·​lar mä-ˈnäk-yə-lər, mə- How to pronounce monocular (audio)
1
: of, involving, or affecting a single eye
monocular vision
2
: suitable for use with only one eye
a monocular microscope
monocularly adverb

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