eyesight

American  

[ahy-sahyt] / ˈaɪˌsaɪt /

noun

1. the power or faculty of seeing.

2. the act or fact of seeing.

3. the range of the eye.

   to come within eyesight.

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eyesight British  

/ ˈaɪˌsaɪt /

noun

1. the ability to see; faculty of sight

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Etymology

Origin of eyesight

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at eye, sight

Explanation

Your eyesight is your vision, or ability to see. If your eyesight isn't perfect, you can correct it using glasses or contact lenses. Most (but not all) animals have eyesight, or the ability to perceive things using eyes. The exceptions are a few nocturnal or underground animals, and those whose eyes or nervous systems are damaged. Eyesight is an amazing sense, giving the average person the ability to distinguish between millions of colors and focus on more than 50 objects per second. The word eyesight was used by 1200, making it about a century older than the word vision.

Example Sentences

Changes in eyesight are one of the most common signs of aging.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

Williams reached the final despite his deteriorating eyesight for which he is awaiting lens replacement surgery.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Then her eyesight deteriorated, which necessitated a month of radiation.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

How’s the eyesight out of a rubber bald eagle mask?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

“Isabelle’s eyesight is not what it once was,” said Martha, “so she is not able to read like she used to.”

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

Related Words

• perception