tunnel vision

[ tuhn-l vizh-uhn ]

noun

1. a drastically narrowed field of vision, as in looking through a tube, symptomatic of retinitis pigmentosa.
2. the tendency to look at things from only one point of view; prejudice or narrow-mindedness:

   All empires invariably produce a kind of tunnel vision.

3. a fixation on only one objective, course of action, etc.:

   These special interest groups operate with defiantly single-minded tunnel vision.

tunnel vision

noun

1. a condition in which peripheral vision is greatly restricted
2. narrowness of viewpoint resulting from concentration on a single idea, opinion, etc, to the exclusion of others

Other Words From

• tun·nel-vi·sioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunnel vision¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Along with tribalism that encourages tunnel vision and an unwillingness to see or hear anything that doesn’t support the tribe’s position.

From Los Angeles Times

“The crowd is screaming but you’re not hearing it, your senses shut down, tunnel vision happens, and all you can think of is, don’t mess this up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Their convictions, he said, had been the result of “tunnel vision.”

From Seattle Times

He has to adopt tunnel vision, and only pay attention to the plan his team has developed.

From Los Angeles Times

Armstrong‘s defense attorneys had urged the jury to find reasonable doubt in what they called an inadequate and sloppy investigation. They accused investigators of “tunnel vision” in quickly identifying Armstrong as the suspect.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness