autofocus

American  

[aw-toh-foh-kuhs] / ˈɔ toʊˌfoʊ kəs /

Or auto-focus

adjective

1. having the ability to focus automatically.

   an autofocus lens; an autofocus camera.

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noun

1. such an ability.

autofocus British  

/ ˈɔːtəʊˌfəʊkəs /

noun

1. another name for automatic focus

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Etymology

Origin of autofocus

First recorded in 1955–60; auto- ³ + focus

Example Sentences

Most smartphone cameras released in the past five years are equipped with tiny lasers to improve functions like autofocus, and lidar-scanning apps simply repurpose these existing features.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2025

The small battery secreted inside IXI's autofocus frames should last for two days, says Mr Eiden, adding that it's possible to recharge the specs overnight while the wearer is asleep.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2025

Overall, the rover continues to operate well, although an arm-mounted instrument that can detect organic molecules has been offline for 2 months, with problems including a malfunctioning autofocus.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 13, 2024

But in the under $1,000 range, The Strategist’s Steven John recommends the Sony Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera for its versatility and superfast autofocus abilities, among other things.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2023

In a later firmware release, Hasselblad is promising face detection autofocus, but at the time of this review, that is not available.

From The Verge • Sep. 8, 2022