Definition

A condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly, often due to the shape of the eye.

Example

He was diagnosed with nearsightedness and needed glasses to see the board in class.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of nearsightedness?

Yeah, I think it means you can see close objects clearly, right?

Exactly! My brother has nearsightedness and needs glasses to see far away.

That makes sense; I've seen him wearing them during games.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nearsightedness is formed from "near" (from Old English "neah", meaning close) and "sight" (from Old English "sīht", meaning the ability to see) combined with the suffix "-edness" (indicating a state or condition). The term refers to the condition of being able to see objects clearly only when they are close, but not at a distance.

Memory Tip

Think of being able to see things that are 'close' ('near') clearly, while things that are far away are not as clear, which is what nearsightedness describes.

Visually Confused Words