target

noun, often attributive tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of target

1 a : a mark to shoot at

b : a target marked by shots fired at it

c : something or someone fired at or marked for attack

d : a goal to be achieved

2 a : an object of ridicule or criticism

b : something or someone to be affected by an action or development

3 a : the metallic surface (as of platinum or tungsten) upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted

b : a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons; especially : fluorescent material on which desired visual effects are produced in electronic devices (as in radar)

4 : a small round shield

— off target

: not valid : inaccurate

— on target

: precisely correct or valid especially in interpreting or addressing a problem or vital issue

See target defined for English-language learners

See target defined for kids

Examples of target in a Sentence

Our target amount for the fund-raiser is $2,500.
They set a target date of May 31.
Planes struck at key military targets.
Tourists are often easy targets for thieves.

Recent Examples of target from the Web

In desperate need of targets for quarterback Mitch Trubisky, the Bears brought in three free agents: wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel and tight end Trey Burton.

— colleen kane, chicagotribune.com, "Saints reportedly sign Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith to offer sheet," 6 Apr. 2018
Still, the list of investigation targets include people across the spectrum, including President Michel Temer.

— Time, "Brazil Is Bracing for the Arrest of Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," 6 Apr. 2018
West Ham United fans are already looking forward to next season and seem to have identified who should be on the Hammers' list of summer transfer targets.

— SI.com, "West Ham Fans Eye Southampton Raid & Identify Main Target Should Saints Be Relegated," 5 Apr. 2018
In discussing elections with West Virginia voters, Trump took time to attack one of the top Republican targets this fall: Local incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin.

— david jackson, USA TODAY, "Donald Trump holds tax cut event but talks about other subjects instead of 'boring' taxes," 5 Apr. 2018
The defense attorneys poked at who Garbutt chose to record after Garbutt said the FBI did not give him a list of targets to go after.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Defense questions informant's motives for going to FBI about Calumet Township trustee's office," 4 Apr. 2018
However, a car company can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions with tactics like limiting coolant leaks and by buying credits, while a shift to larger vehicles like SUVs changes the weighting of the average fuel economy target.

— umair irfan, Vox, "The EPA’s fuel standard rollback will hurt clean carmakers like Tesla," 2 Apr. 2018
Kor became a target for snowballs and pranks from neighborhood kids.

— robert king, Indianapolis Star, "Eva Kor as we've never seen her: Film adds layers to story of Indiana Holocaust survivor," 2 Apr. 2018
Amendola, one of Tom Brady's favorite targets with the Patriots, is a nine-year veteran who has spent the past five seasons in New England.

— staff & wire reports, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Model Olivia Culpo confirms split with Dolphins' Danny Amendola," 30 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of target

Middle English, from Middle French targette, targuete, diminutive of targe light shield, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse targa shield

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

target Synonyms

Phrases

name of the game;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

target

verb

Definition of target

transitive verb

1 : to make a target of

targeted her for promotion

; especially : to set as a goal

2 : to direct or use toward a target

See target defined for English-language learners

Examples of target in a Sentence

drugs that target cancer cells

Recent Examples of target from the Web

Novartis is acquiring AveXis for $8.7 billion to strengthen its gene therapy unit, adding a promising but still experimental treatment targeting a fatal childhood disease.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "Novartis buying AveXis for $8.7 billion to strengthen gene therapy capabilities," 9 Apr. 2018
Though there are no reports that Trump specifically urged U.S. forces to target terrorists’ family members, under his administration the number of civilians killed in U.S. airstrikes has increased drastically.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Questioned Why CIA Avoided Killing Terrorist’s Family: Report," 6 Apr. 2018
This new law targets that one remaining clinic, threatening to make a scarce health service even more difficult to access—especially for low-income women in Mississippi, who are less likely to have the means to obtain quality care elsewhere.

— willie parker, Glamour, "Dr. Willie Parker: The South is 'Ground Zero' in the Abortion-Access Fight," 5 Apr. 2018
The bikes are targeted at the middle of the booming e-bike market, taking advantage of the company’s economies of scale to offer a little better price-to-performance ratio than rival brands.

— ty brookhart, Outside Online, "Yamaha Just Launched Its First Electric Bicycles," 3 Apr. 2018
Why do Wade and his VR friends have to meet in the same city for this sequence, where they're eventually targeted by Sorrento's henchmen?

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Ready Player One’s film adaptation isn’t even good enough as a kids movie," 29 Mar. 2018
Facebook previously let advertisers target people using data from a number of sources: Data from Facebook, which the company collects from user activity and profiles.

— kurt wagner, Recode, "Facebook is changing what data advertisers can use to target you with ads," 28 Mar. 2018
Miley was on the verge of securing a rotation spot and Logan was targeted for late duty in the bullpen.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers drop both games against Astros but feel good about spring training in general," 27 Mar. 2018
Li reportedly was targeted for an investigation after the test, though no outcome has ever been reported.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Baidu gets the green light to test self-driving cars in China," 23 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of target

1837

TARGET Defined for English Language Learners

target

noun

Definition of target for English Language Learners

: something that you are trying to do or achieve
: a place, thing, or person at which an attack is aimed
: the person or group that someone is trying to influence, sell something to, etc.

target

verb

Definition of target for English Language Learners

: to aim an attack at someone or something
: to direct an action, message, etc., at someone or something

TARGET Defined for Kids

target

noun tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

Definition of target for Students

1 : a mark or object to shoot at or attack

2 : a person or thing that is talked about, criticized, or laughed at

3 : a goal to be reached Her target is to lose ten pounds by summer.

Medical Dictionary

target

noun tar·get \ ˈtär-gət \

medical Definition of target

1 : something to be affected by an action or development; specifically : an organ, part, or tissue that is affected by the action of a hormone

2 a : the metallic surface usually of platinum or tungsten upon which the stream of electrons within an X-ray tube is focused and from which the X-rays are emitted

b : a body, surface, or material bombarded with nuclear particles or electrons

3 : the thought or object that is to be recognized (as by telepathy) or affected (as by psychokinesis) in a parapsychological experiment