trifocal

[ trahy-foh-kuhl, trahy-foh- ]

adjective

1. Optics. having three foci.
2. (of an eyeglass lens) having three portions, one for near, one for intermediate, and one for far vision.

noun

1. trifocals, eyeglasses with trifocal lenses.

trifocal

adjective

1. having three focuses
2. having three focal lengths

noun

1. plural glasses with trifocal lenses

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifocal¹

First recorded in 1945–50; tri- + focal

Example Sentences

Flores’ girlfriend, who wore glasses with trifocal lenses, picked out Palacios.

From Los Angeles Times

I'm really happy about it primarily because I got my cataracts at the best time in America to have cataracts because I got to get the PanOptix Trifocal Lens.

From Fox News

Americans would do well to view anti-Semitism with a trifocal lens.

From Seattle Times

The least expensive prescription option is bifocal or trifocal glasses with a visible line separating the top portion of the lens, which corrects for distance if necessary, from the bottom portion, which corrects for presbyopia.

From New York Times

Treatment options: nonprescription and prescription eyeglasses, bifocal and trifocal contact lenses, refractive surgery to reshape the cornea, and lens replacement with a synthetic implant. — Cataracts: They affect more than 22 million Americans, and the older you get, the greater your risk.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• glass