adjective
far sighted
far-SY-tid
Far sighted (adjective) means Able to see distant objects clearly while close objects appear blurred. The usual British term is long-sighted and the clinical term is hyperopic. Example: “He is far-sighted and needs glasses to read a menu.”
adjective
1
Able to see distant objects clearly while close objects appear blurred. The usual British term is long-sighted and the clinical term is hyperopic.
"He is far-sighted and needs glasses to read a menu."
"Children can be far-sighted without noticing, because their eyes compensate."
2
Showing good judgement about what will be needed in the future; planning well ahead.
"A far-sighted council bought the land thirty years before it was needed."
"It was a far-sighted decision that saved the company in the downturn."
How to use far sighted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan see far away clearly but not close up — or, of a person, good at planning ahead.
When to use it
Both senses are neutral; the optical sense is American, the planning sense is used everywhere.
Memory tip
Both the hyphenated 'far-sighted' and the solid 'farsighted' are accepted; American dictionaries prefer the solid form.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
far-sighted vision
far-sighted decision
far-sighted policy
far-sighted leadership
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Synonyms
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Rhymes for far sighted
See all rhymes for far sighted →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between far-sighted and near-sighted?
A far-sighted eye focuses light behind the retina, so distance vision is clearer and close work is blurred and tiring. A near-sighted eye focuses light in front of the retina, so reading is fine but road signs are a blur. Far-sightedness is corrected with convex (plus) lenses, near-sightedness with concave (minus) ones.
Is far-sighted the same as long-sighted?
Yes. Long-sighted is the usual British term and far-sighted the American one; the clinical name in both is hyperopia. Presbyopia, the age-related loss of close focus after about 40, is a separate condition often mistaken for it.
Can far-sighted describe a person's thinking as well as their eyes?
It can, and that sense is entirely positive — it means someone who anticipates what is coming. Confusingly, short-sighted is used the same way as an insult, meaning someone who only thinks about the immediate.
What is the meaning of far sighted?
"far sighted" (adjective) means able to see distant objects clearly while close objects appear blurred. The usual British term is long-sighted and the clinical term is hyperopic.
