tunnel vision

[tuhn-l vizh-uhn]

noun

1. a drastically narrowed field of vision, as in looking through a tube, symptomatic of retinitis pigmentosa.

2. the tendency to look at things from only one point of view; prejudice or narrow-mindedness.

   All empires invariably produce a kind of tunnel vision.

3. a fixation on only one objective, course of action, etc..

   These special interest groups operate with defiantly single-minded tunnel vision.

tunnel vision

noun

1. a condition in which peripheral vision is greatly restricted

2. narrowness of viewpoint resulting from concentration on a single idea, opinion, etc, to the exclusion of others

Other Word Forms

• tunnel-visioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunnel vision¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does tunnel vision mean?

Literally, tunnel vision is a term meaning that the edges of your vision are lost and only central focus remains, as if you were looking through a tunnel.Figuratively, it is a lack of perspective caused by intense focus on one object, leading to neglect of your surroundings and responsibilities or being closed off to other viewpoints.How do you pronounce tunnel vision?[ tuhn-l vizh-uhn ]