myopia
C1Formal, Medical, Academic, Figurative
Definition
Meaning
A medical condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects are clear; nearsightedness.
A lack of foresight, discernment, or long-range perspective in thinking or planning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a formal/technical term for nearsightedness. Its figurative use for short-sighted thinking is common in academic, business, and political contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal in both varieties.
Connotations
The figurative use often carries a negative judgement, implying a failure to consider long-term consequences.
Frequency
More frequent in written English than in casual conversation. The figurative use is arguably more common than the literal in non-medical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/Their/This] myopia (led to | resulted in | caused) [negative outcome][Subject] suffers from (a) myopia (of/in) [type][Subject] is often accused of myopiaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticising a company's focus on short-term profits over long-term sustainability: 'The board's financial myopia will harm our brand in a decade.'
Academic
Analysing historical or political decisions: 'The treaty's failure is often attributed to the diplomatic myopia of the era.'
Everyday
Rare in casual talk. Might be used humorously: 'I've got menu myopia – I can only see the desserts.'
Technical
Describing the refractive error of the eye: 'Axial myopia is caused by an elongated eyeball.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The myopic focus on quarterly targets is damaging.
- A myopic view of history ignores broader trends.
American English
- The policy was myopic and self-defeating.
- He made a myopic decision to ignore the data.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She wears glasses for her myopia.
- Too much screen time can worsen myopia in children.
- The government's myopia regarding climate change has been widely criticised.
- High myopia requires strong corrective lenses.
- The company's strategic myopia led it to miss the digital revolution entirely.
- Cultural myopia can prevent us from understanding the values of other societies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'My OPIA' (my operation isn't assessing). I can't see far because I'm only focused on my immediate area.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING. A lack of understanding or foresight is a physical inability to see clearly (into the future).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'близорукость' only in the literal sense. The figurative sense is strong in English and requires a phrase like 'близорукость политики/мышления' or 'недальновидность'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'myopia' to mean general blindness or ignorance (it specifically implies seeing the near well but the far poorly).
- Mispronouncing as /maɪˈɒp.i.ə/.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'short-sighted' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for using 'myopia' figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal word. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'nearsightedness' for the medical condition or 'short-sighted' for the lack of foresight.
Almost never. Both the literal and figurative uses describe a deficiency or limitation.
'Tunnel vision' suggests a narrow focus on one specific goal or detail, often excluding peripheral information. 'Myopia' suggests an inability to see or consider the long-term future or broader implications.
No. The related adjective is 'myopic'. You would use phrases like 'suffer from myopia' or 'be accused of myopia'.