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
That includes possible options in refereeing and looking at player health through the prism of female athletes.
—
Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Penn’s relationship to the lens — and the curious eyes watching through it — is a prism into the off-screen forces that shaped his early life.
—Sophie Ansari, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
This allows for slim, lightweight smart glasses, avoiding the bulky prisms used in video-centric models like the XReal One Proo.
—PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Seen through that prism, the Mistral earns its place in history as a remarkable bridge between two epic epochs.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
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Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Penn’s relationship to the lens — and the curious eyes watching through it — is a prism into the off-screen forces that shaped his early life.
—Sophie Ansari, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
This allows for slim, lightweight smart glasses, avoiding the bulky prisms used in video-centric models like the XReal One Proo.
—PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Seen through that prism, the Mistral earns its place in history as a remarkable bridge between two epic epochs.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
Cite this Entry
“Prism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prism. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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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