monocular

[ muh-nok-yuh-ler ]

/ məˈnɒk yə lər /

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adjective

having only one eye.

of, relating to, or for the use of only one eye: a monocular microscope.

noun

a monocular instrument or device.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of monocular

1630–40; <Late Latin monocul(us) one-eyed (see monocle) + -ar¹

OTHER WORDS FROM monocular

mo·noc·u·lar·ly, adverb

Words nearby monocular

monocot, monocotyledon, monocotyledonous, monocracy, monocrat, monocular, monoculture, monocycle, monocyclic, monocyte, Monod

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use monocular in a sentence

Once we got to the prairie, he handed me his monocular and directed my gaze upward to a yellow bird he’d never seen before, while he flipped through The Sibley Guide to Birds.
The Man I Loved, the Birds He Watched|jversteegh|January 13, 2022|Outside Online
If you don’t want to carry a full pair, this monocular is a great compromise, because it fits in the chest pocket of a jacket but features sharp optics and an 8x magnification for a very reasonable price.
The Best Presents Often Come in Small Packages|jeremyr|December 17, 2021|Outside Online
At 270 grams, this 8x monocular is a no-brainer to throw in your pocket for long-distance gazing.
The Best Winter Camping Gear of 2022|jversteegh|October 26, 2021|Outside Online
That’s all packed into a portable night-vision monocular that weighs less than three quarters of a pound.
Best night-vision goggles: How to see the galaxy when the Sun goes down|Irena Collaku|August 15, 2021|Popular-Science

So binoculars are best if you want to see objects farther away, monoculars are best if you need to keep weight down in your pack, and NVGs are best if you’re looking for night sight that’s easy to use, especially when on the move.
Best night-vision goggles: How to see the galaxy when the Sun goes down|Irena Collaku|August 15, 2021|Popular-Science
Nystagmus occasionally occurs in monocular fixation (with exclusion of the other eye).
Schweigger on Squint|C. Schweigger
Rapidly occurring monocular visual disturbances are noticed, whether detected with or without the ophthalmoscope.
Schweigger on Squint|C. Schweigger
In monocular vision, on the contrary, the movement is uniformly upward and involves a progressive increase in error.
Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1|Various
Several points of comparison between judgments made with binocular and with monocular vision remain to be stated.
Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1|Various
I have a very good prism monocular—twenty-five diameter magnification, with a splendid definition.
The Pit Prop Syndicate|Freeman Wills Crofts

British Dictionary definitions for monocular

monocular

/ (mɒˈnɒkjʊlə) /

adjective

having to do with or using only one eye

noun

a device for use with one eye, such as a field glass

Derived forms of monocular

monocularly, adverb

Word Origin for monocular

C17: from Late Latin monoculus one-eyed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012