focal
Americanadjective
adjective
-
of or relating to a focus
-
situated at, passing through, or measured from the focus
Other Word Forms
- focally adverb
Etymology
Origin of focal
From the New Latin word focālis, dating back to 1685–95. See focus, -al 1
Vocabulary lists containing focal
Part 3 Vocabulary (Unit 2)
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Vocabulary from Readings, Part 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earlier, she told Xi that the Taiwan Strait would "no longer be a focal point of potential conflict" and "both sides should transcend political confrontation".
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
Earnings season has also become a focal point, as quarterly results dominate headlines and investors tend to make trading decisions based on short-term news.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
The key question is how much this has damaged the Gulf's reputation as a focal point for global aviation – and whether its model has suffered lasting damage.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
The negotiations remain a focal point for policymakers and economists, setting the benchmark for nonunionized smaller businesses, which employ the vast majority of Japan’s workforce.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
I picked a corner of the ceiling where a spider had spun a web as my focal point.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
