sighting
Britishnoun
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an occasion on which something is seen
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Another name for sight
Explanation
A sighting is an instance of discovering or observing something. You might use your telescope to watch the night sky for hours in the hope of a UFO sighting. Your friend, an avid birdwatcher, gets excited at every woodpecker or heron sighting he makes, while you're more interested in sightings of used bookstores. A sighting of your favorite pop star — a quick glimpse as she ducks into a limousine — might be thrilling for you and your friend! Sighting, "an instance of catching sight," dates from the mid-19th century.
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.
Spotting the 10-foot shark isn’t a typical sighting for the local Marine Safety Division.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
A sighting of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chatting with Mickey Mouse, wand in hand, felt almost cathartic.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Moon spotters were passing their skills to the next generation as Muslims waited for a sighting of the new moon to celebrate Eid.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
My friend was shamed for reporting a coyote sighting in her desert neighborhood on Nextdoor and took the post down.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
“First sighting was spring, tenth of this year. When Petal was taken.”
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
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.
