short sighted
Short sighted (adjective) means Unable to see distant objects clearly, so that things far away appear blurred while close-up things stay sharp. Example: “She has been short sighted since she was nine and cannot read road signs without her glasses.”
How to Use Short sighted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither you cannot see far away, or you are not thinking far ahead.
Usually written short-sighted with a hyphen in British English, and often shortsighted as one word in American English. Doctors say myopic.
Short-sighted people see short distances well. Long-sighted people see long distances well. The name describes what you CAN see, not what you cannot.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She has been _____ since she was nine and cannot read road signs without her glasses.
Etymology
A compound of short and sighted, first describing limited physical vision and later extended to limited foresight.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for short sighted
See all rhymes for short sighted →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between short sighted and near-sighted?
They mean exactly the same eye condition. Short-sighted is the usual British term and near-sighted the usual American one, while myopic is the clinical word used in both.
What is the difference between short sighted and long sighted?
A short-sighted person sees close objects clearly and distant ones blurred. A long-sighted person is the reverse: distance is comfortable and close work such as reading is blurred or tiring.
Is short sighted hyphenated?
In careful writing, yes: short-sighted. The unhyphenated short sighted is very common in casual use, and Americans often write it closed up as shortsighted.