Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

saccade

noun
sac·​cade | \sa-ˈkäd \

Definition of saccade 

: a small rapid jerky movement of the eye especially as it jumps from fixation on one point to another (as in reading)

Other Words from saccade Example Sentences Learn More about saccade

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from saccade

saccadic \sa-​ˈkä-​dik \ adjective

Examples of saccade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Micah Mazurek The team created three games to enhance a child’s ability to control eye movements, including saccades. — Sarah Deweerdt, Science | AAAS, "Can science-based video games help kids with autism?," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'saccade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of saccade

1938, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for saccade

French, twitch, jerk, from Middle French, from saquer to pull, draw

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about saccade

Statistics for saccade

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for saccade

The first known use of saccade was in 1938

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for saccade

saccade

noun
sac·​cade | \sa-ˈkäd \

Medical Definition of saccade 

: a small rapid jerky movement of the eye especially as it jumps from fixation on one point to another (as in reading)

Other Words from saccade

saccadic \-​ˈkäd-​ik \ adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on saccade

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with saccade

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about saccade

Comments on saccade

What made you want to look up saccade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

immure

to enclose within walls

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Late Autumn 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

  • frosted-autumn-leaves
  • Which is a synonym of yahoo?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  2. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

  3. endgame Marvel's Avengers: Endgame

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games