focal

adjective

fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or having a focus
focally adverb

Examples of focal in a Sentence

a focal figure in the movement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These shifts were linked to symptoms such as a decrease in eye size, changes in focal field, and, in some cases, swelling of the optic nerve and retinal folds. Victoria Corless, Space.com, 5 Feb. 2025 The condition is considered a form of focal dystonia, a movement disorder that causes muscle contractions in a specific body part. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Black women have long been a focal demographic at the intersection of economic, social and political changes in the United States. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 The display is also located far behind the steering wheel and creates what, for some drivers, might be an odd focal distance. Doug Newcomb, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for focal 

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of focal was in 1676

Dictionary Entries Near focal

Cite this Entry

“Focal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focal. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

focal

adjective
fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, or having a focus
focally adverb

Medical Definition

focal

adjective
fo·​cal ˈfō-kəl How to pronounce focal (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or having a focus
focally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on focal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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