Meaning & use
bifocal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Having two parts with different focal lengths, used especially in eyeglass lenses for near and far vision.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'bifocal lenses'. The plural noun 'bifocals' means the glasses.
Patterns
- bifocal lenses
- bifocal glasses
The optician recommended bifocal lenses because she needed help with both reading and distance.
He wears bifocal glasses that let him see the computer screen and the whiteboard clearly.
nounplural
Glasses with bifocal lenses; usually plural.
Grammar: Always plural: 'a pair of bifocals'. Not used in the singular to mean the glasses.
Patterns
- a pair of bifocals
- wear bifocals
My grandfather pulled out his bifocals to read the fine print.
She switched to bifocals last year and says they take some getting used to.
Common combinations
- bifocal lenses
- Bifocal lenses have a visible line across the middle.
- a pair of bifocals
- He bought a new pair of bifocals from the optician.
- wear bifocals
- Many people start to wear bifocals in their forties.
- bifocal glasses
- Bifocal glasses can be more expensive than single-vision ones.
Synonyms and how they differ
- varifocal
- British; describes lenses that change focus gradually without a visible line, unlike bifocals.
- progressive
- American; similar to varifocal, with no line and multiple zones, not just two.
Word family
- bifocals noun
- Plural noun meaning eyeglasses with bifocal lenses.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The plural noun 'bifocals' refers to the glasses themselves. 'A bifocal' is not used for the glasses; 'bifocal' alone is an adjective and needs a noun like 'lenses'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bifocal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.