adjective
nearsighted
NEER-sy-tid
Nearsighted (adjective) means Able to see things clearly only when they are close, with distant objects appearing blurred; short-sighted. Example: “I'm too nearsighted to read the road signs without my glasses.”
adjective
1
Able to see things clearly only when they are close, with distant objects appearing blurred; short-sighted.
"I'm too nearsighted to read the road signs without my glasses."
"He realised he was nearsighted when he could not make out the whiteboard from the back row."
2
Concerned only with immediate results and failing to consider longer-term consequences.
"Cutting the training budget to hit this quarter's target was a nearsighted decision."
How to use nearsighted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYou can see things up close, but anything far away looks blurry.
When to use it
Neutral and everyday in American English. British writers usually say short-sighted; myopic is the medical term.
Memory tip
Remember it by the word inside: a nearsighted person only has good sight up near.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
severely nearsighted
nearsighted in one eye
a nearsighted policy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like nearsighted.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'm too _____ to read the road signs without my glasses.
Etymology
A compound of near and sighted, describing sight that works only at near range.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for nearsighted
See all rhymes for nearsighted →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between nearsighted and farsighted?
A nearsighted person sees close objects clearly and distant ones blurred, because the eye focuses light in front of the retina. A farsighted person has the opposite problem: distance is easier and close work such as reading is blurred. Nearsightedness is corrected with concave (minus-power) lenses, farsightedness with convex (plus) ones.
Is nearsighted the same as myopic?
Yes. Myopic is the clinical term for the same condition, from the Greek for "closing the eyes", and it appears on prescriptions and in medical notes. Nearsighted is the everyday American word for it.
Is it nearsighted or short-sighted?
They mean exactly the same thing; nearsighted is standard in American English and short-sighted in British English. In the figurative sense of poor planning, short-sighted is the more common form on both sides of the Atlantic.
What is the meaning of nearsighted?
"nearsighted" (adjective) means able to see things clearly only when they are close, with distant objects appearing blurred; short-sighted.
