optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl 
1
: of or relating to the science of optics
2
a
: of or relating to vision : visual
b
: visible sense 1
optical wavelength
c
: of, relating to, or being objects that emit light in the visible range of frequencies
an optical galaxy
d
: using the properties of light to aid vision
an optical instrument
3
a
: of, relating to, or utilizing light especially instead of other forms of energy
optical microscopy
b
: involving the use of light-sensitive devices to acquire information for a computer
optical character recognition
4
: of or relating to optical art
Examples of optical in a Sentence
The company manufactures microscopes, telescopes, and other optical instruments.
an optical illusion that fools most people
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers achieved this using an atomically thin monolayer semiconductor embedded inside a nanoscale optical cavity designed to trap and control light.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Others include Li Xiaoming, who turned his landscape design company Hui Lyu Ecological Technology Groups into an optical components maker, and Zhang Xingang, the founder of photonic chip developer Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Later, the state would use this optical character recognition technology to count ballots and comply with the state law barring the use of QR codes.
—Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
And on the ground, where atmospheric interference can make sending data via optical beams trickier, Google’s Taara subsidiary has developed a compact silicon-photonics chipset that can support up to 25Gbps data transfers as far as 12 miles.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical
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Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Others include Li Xiaoming, who turned his landscape design company Hui Lyu Ecological Technology Groups into an optical components maker, and Zhang Xingang, the founder of photonic chip developer Yuanjie Semiconductor Technology.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Later, the state would use this optical character recognition technology to count ballots and comply with the state law barring the use of QR codes.
—Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
And on the ground, where atmospheric interference can make sending data via optical beams trickier, Google’s Taara subsidiary has developed a compact silicon-photonics chipset that can support up to 25Gbps data transfers as far as 12 miles.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optical
Cite this Entry
“Optical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
1
: relating to optics
2
: of or relating to vision
3
a
: of, relating to, or using light
an optical telescope
b
: involving the use of a device that senses light to acquire information for a computer
an optical scanner
Medical Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
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