focal

adjective

fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl 

: of, relating to, being, or having a focus

focally

ˈfō-kə-lē 

adverb

Examples of focal in a Sentence

a focal figure in the movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Modern capitalism has largely been ordered around the view of banks as the focal intermediaries of money. — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026

Bad Paint Choices and Jobs Buyers can get turned off by overly bold paint colors, whether on a single focal wall or drenching an entire room. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 21 Sep. 2026

Rashed proposed establishing a dedicated water unit with a focal person and a dedicated team at BKMEA to monitor progress. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

This design continually reflects the laser inside the stream via total internal reflection, overcoming the need for focal-point or Rayleigh-length adjustments. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing focal

• focal infection
• focal length
• focal plane
• focal point
• focal ratio

Rhymes for focal

• cloacal
• local
• sokol
• vocal
• confocal
• nonlocal
• multifocal
• univocal

Kids Definition

focal

adjective

fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl 

: of, relating to, or having a focus

focally

-kə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

focal

adjective

fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl 

: of, relating to, being, or having a focus

focally

-kə-lē 

adverb