target

The word “target” means something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice. In plain terms, something you aim at or aim for — literally (a shooting target) or figuratively (a sales target, a target audience).

“Target” is pronounced TAH-giht (/ˈtɑɹ.ɡɪt/ in IPA).

Here is “target” used in a sentence: “He hit the bullseye on the target from thirty metres away.”

Depending on how it is used, “target” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “target” comes from Old French. From Old French targe, meaning a small shield, going back to a Frankish word for the same; the shooting sense grew out of that older "shield" meaning.

“Target” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Target” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something aimed at, such as a mark used for shooting practice.

The words overlap, but a target is usually specific and measurable — a precise figure or mark to hit, like a sales target of £50,000. A goal is broader, describing the overall outcome you want to achieve. Targets are often the concrete milestones you set on the way to a larger goal.

Target has several everyday uses. In sport there are physical targets like archery bullseyes and shooting marks. In business, sales and performance targets set measurable goals. In marketing, a target audience is the group a product aims to reach. Each shares the idea of something deliberately aimed at.

A classic example is the round, ringed board used in archery or darts, where the centre bullseye scores highest. Other examples include a runner's target time, a charity's fundraising target, or the target market for a new phone. All are things aimed at or worked toward.