What does myope mean?
A myope is a person who is shortsighted, with nearby objects appearing clear while distant ones remain blurred. The term also has a well-established figurative use: it describes someone whose outlook is so narrow that they overlook broader consequences, challenges, or alternative perspectives. In this sense, calling someone a myope is usually critical, suggesting that they have failed to consider matters beyond their immediate interests. The word comes from Greek, combining elements associated with closing or bringing something near with a word for eye. It belongs to the same word family as the adjective myopic and the noun myopia, the latter naming the condition rather than the person who has it. Although medically precise, “myope” is often used figuratively in discussion of politics, business, society, and culture, where limited vision and institutional myopia are recurring concepts.
nounA person who is shortsighted, especially someone who fails to recognize broader consequences, implications, or perspectives.
- A person whose eyesight is focused on nearby objects and distant objects appear blurred.
- A person whose limited perspective prevents understanding broader implications or alternative viewpoints.
"Rather than dismissing her proposal as the work of a myope, the committee considered the concerns she had raised."
"The optician diagnosed the child as a myope and prescribed corrective lenses."
"Calling the architect a myope did not alter the fact that the plan ignored the needs of the surrounding neighborhood."
The plural is grammatically standard but uncommon because the word is most often used figuratively in the singular.
"The article described the organization's leaders as myopes who had failed to anticipate the crisis."
From Greek words meaning “close” and “eye,” a myope literally sees only what is nearby—and figuratively can miss the bigger picture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myope come from?
Myope comes from Greek myōpos, a term for a shortsighted person and literally associated with closing the eye or bringing it near to an object. The modern English word entered use in the early 17th century, initially in medical writing. It belongs to a Greek-derived family that includes myopic and myopia.
Related word forms
How myope is actually used
The literal sense is chiefly medical. The figurative sense is more common in formal or literary writing and carries the implication of limited perspective rather than simply poor eyesight.
Easily confused with myope
Myope denotes a person with shortsightedness, whereas myopia denotes the condition itself.
Myope is a noun referring to a person, while myopic is the adjective describing that person or the condition.