sunglass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “sunglass” mean?
A single lens or piece of tinted glass designed to protect eyes from sunlight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single lens or piece of tinted glass designed to protect eyes from sunlight.
Often used in technical or manufacturing contexts to refer to the individual lens component of a pair of sunglasses. In casual use, it is sometimes mistakenly used to mean 'sunglasses' (plural).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally uncommon in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical or manufacturing term in both regions. Using 'sunglass' to mean one item of eyewear sounds odd or erroneous to most speakers.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both BrE and AmE. The plural 'sunglasses' is the standard, universal term.
Grammar
How to Use “sunglass” in a Sentence
[manufacture/produce] a [polarised] sunglass[replace/insert] the [broken] sunglassVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sunglass” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sunglass industry is thriving.
- They discussed sunglass technology.
American English
- The sunglass market is competitive.
- He works in sunglass design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in manufacturing or retail specifications for eyewear components.
Academic
Rare; might appear in optics or materials science texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used correctly. The plural 'sunglasses' is used exclusively.
Technical
The primary domain, referring to the individual lens unit.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sunglass”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sunglass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sunglass”
- Using 'sunglass' to mean one pair of sunglasses (e.g., 'I lost my sunglass').
- Treating 'sunglass' as a standard countable noun for the wearable item.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not in common usage. 'Sunglasses' is a plural noun (like 'scissors' or 'trousers'). 'Sunglass' exists primarily as a technical term for the lens component.
No. You should ask for 'a pair of sunglasses' or 'sunglasses'. Saying 'a sunglass' will likely cause confusion.
You might encounter it in technical manuals, manufacturing contexts, or when discussing the individual lenses, e.g., 'the left sunglass is polarised'.
It is recorded due to its role as the root of the common compound 'sunglasses' and its specific, technical meaning in industry.
A single lens or piece of tinted glass designed to protect eyes from sunlight.
Sunglass is usually technical/formal in register.
Sunglass: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.ɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.ɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SUN + GLASS'. Just one piece of glass for the sun, not the two you wear.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A FILTER (the glass filters harmful sunlight).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sunglass' CORRECTLY?