optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl 
1
: of or relating to the science of optics
2
a
: of or relating to vision : visual
b
: visible sense 1
optical wavelength
c
: of, relating to, or being objects that emit light in the visible range of frequencies
an optical galaxy
d
: using the properties of light to aid vision
an optical instrument
3
a
: of, relating to, or utilizing light especially instead of other forms of energy
optical microscopy
b
: involving the use of light-sensitive devices to acquire information for a computer
optical character recognition
4
: of or relating to optical art
Examples of optical in a Sentence
The company manufactures microscopes, telescopes, and other optical instruments.
an optical illusion that fools most people
Recent Examples on the Web
The crux of our thesis is that Corning’s optical communication enterprise business is a big winner in the AI data center buildout, so that’s an important box to check this quarter.
—
Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
By designing two complementary layers—a tunable optical active layer and a mechanically distinct passive layer—the team created modular actuators capable of diverse motions, from directional movement to secure object gripping.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
The exhibition space is in optical white, with neon lighting that highlights the details and embroidery of each piece, showcasing the designers’ meticulous craftsmanship.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Most display ultraviolet light, indicating stars, plus optical/infrared light, indicating active black holes.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical
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Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
By designing two complementary layers—a tunable optical active layer and a mechanically distinct passive layer—the team created modular actuators capable of diverse motions, from directional movement to secure object gripping.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
The exhibition space is in optical white, with neon lighting that highlights the details and embroidery of each piece, showcasing the designers’ meticulous craftsmanship.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Most display ultraviolet light, indicating stars, plus optical/infrared light, indicating active black holes.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical
Cite this Entry
“Optical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
1
: relating to optics
2
: of or relating to vision
3
a
: of, relating to, or using light
an optical telescope
b
: involving the use of a device that senses light to acquire information for a computer
an optical scanner
Medical Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
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