target

1 of 2

noun

tar·​get ˈtär-gət 

often attributive

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

c

US law : a person against whom a federal prosecutor has substantial evidence of involvement in criminal activity and who the prosecutor believes is likely to be indicted by a grand jury

The full extent of Iacobelli's ongoing cooperation is sealed in federal court, but prosecutors have identified additional targets and Iacobelli could spend less time in prison if his help proves substantial.

—Robert Snell

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

target

2 of 2

verb

targeted; targeting; targets

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

Phrases

off target

: not valid : inaccurate

on target

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

Synonyms

Noun

• butt
• mark
• prey
• sitting duck
• victim

Examples of target in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

drugs that target cancer cells

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

McCarthyism went after individuals for their political beliefs; today, the targets are the curriculum and the classroom, the very bones of the educational system. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2024

One of the big targets became absentee ballots, a lot of misinformation about how they're processed about mass voter fraud. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing target

• find its target
• find one's mark/target
• off target
• on target
• prime target
• soft target
• target date
• target language
• target letter

Kids Definition

target

noun

tar·​get

ˈtär-gət

1

: a mark to shoot at

2

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

3

: a goal to be achieved : objective

Medical Definition

target

noun

tar·​get ˈtär-gət 

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

Legal Definition

target

noun

tar·​get

: the object to be affected or achieved by an action or development

specifically : a company that is the object of a takeover