1
: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
2
a
: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
b
: a prism-shaped decorative glass luster
3
: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
especially
: one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
4
: a medium that distorts, slants, or colors whatever is viewed through it
Examples of prism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Viewed through the prism of wringing out the most of every last great Steph Curry season, this year was squandered.
—
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
People around the world reach conclusions about the justice of a particular military operation not on the basis of a legal debate but through the prism of their particular media consumption.
—Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024
Taken together, the voices in the collection are a prism that reflects, distorts, and ultimately illuminates the complicated relationship people have with Adderall.
—Longreads, 29 Mar. 2024
But Belmopan is also, perhaps, a prism through which to view the development of Belize, which has emerged as something of an exception in Central America.
—Simon Romero Alejandro Cegarra, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024
This ambitious biography of the jazz singer Billie Holiday uses 1959, the tumultuous final year of her life, as a prism through which to view her career.
—The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
The glasses feature a 640 x 400 pixel color micro OLED that projects light through a prism in front of users’ eyes.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 9 Feb. 2024
During and after the 30 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, the Palestinians’ struggle for liberation was seen by its residents through the prism of their own conflict.
—Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
That tradition offers Nicholson a philosophical prism through which to view his mostly autobiographical art.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
People around the world reach conclusions about the justice of a particular military operation not on the basis of a legal debate but through the prism of their particular media consumption.
—Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024
Taken together, the voices in the collection are a prism that reflects, distorts, and ultimately illuminates the complicated relationship people have with Adderall.
—Longreads, 29 Mar. 2024
But Belmopan is also, perhaps, a prism through which to view the development of Belize, which has emerged as something of an exception in Central America.
—Simon Romero Alejandro Cegarra, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024
This ambitious biography of the jazz singer Billie Holiday uses 1959, the tumultuous final year of her life, as a prism through which to view her career.
—The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
The glasses feature a 640 x 400 pixel color micro OLED that projects light through a prism in front of users’ eyes.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 9 Feb. 2024
During and after the 30 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, the Palestinians’ struggle for liberation was seen by its residents through the prism of their own conflict.
—Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
That tradition offers Nicholson a philosophical prism through which to view his mostly autobiographical art.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prism
Cite this Entry
“Prism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prism. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prism
noun1
: a polyhedron with two opposite ends that are parallel polygons and faces that are each parallelograms
2
: a transparent object that usually has three sides and bends light so that it breaks up into rainbow colors
Medical Definition
prism
noun1
: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
2
: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
3
: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
especially
: one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
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