Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

farsighted

American  
[fahr-sahy-tid, -sahy-tid] / ˈfɑrˈsaɪ tɪd, -ˌsaɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. seeing objects at a distance more clearly than those near at hand; hyperopic.

  2. seeing to a great distance.

  3. wise, as in foreseeing future developments.

    a farsighted statesman.

    Synonyms:
    perspicacious, prudent, discerning, prescient, farseeing, foresighted

Other Word Forms

  • farsightedly adverb
  • farsightedness noun

Etymology

Origin of farsighted

First recorded in 1635–45; far + sight + -ed 3

Compare meaning

How does farsighted compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Explanation

Someone who's farsighted can see distant objects more clearly than things that are nearby. If you're farsighted, you may need to get some reading glasses. Do you squint at tiny type online or in magazines, but clearly see the print on a sign several yards away? You might be farsighted! A more figurative way to be farsighted is to have the ability to guess, predict, or plan for what's going to happen in the future. If a candidate has farsighted ideas about education and jobs, they'll probably make a good member of the city council or school committee.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

New York Fed President John Williams proved the most farsighted of all in his football — and economic — forecasts.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

They created the Garden School Foundation to support the project, which school and foundation officials believe was a farsighted decision.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2024

When Bahar came up with her vision of creating a biodiversity map for an educational institution, a university campus, it was one-of-a-kind, farsighted and, most importantly, truly local.

From Scientific American • May 20, 2023

But the farsighted and analytical statesman did manage to wrest his own homeland from the grip of czarism and from two other powers, Austria and Prussia.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2022

Yet I also remembered, as if it had happened, great Scyld, of whose kingdom no trace remained, and his farsighted son, of whose greater kingdom no trace remained.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner