1
: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
2
a
: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
b
: a prism-shaped decorative glass luster
3
: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
especially
: one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
4
: a medium that distorts, slants, or colors whatever is viewed through it
Examples of prism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Coming from a filmmaker with a background in video art and large-scale installations, the film uses 3D scanning and AI to explore questions of dispossession and social control through the prism of a commonplace police identity check.
—
Ben Croll, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
Is the Gaza takeover proposal a land grab by a president who sees the world through the prism of a New York real estate developer?
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The friendship could begin unburdened, and yet the prism of impending loss would increasingly shadow their later contacts.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
Light from the galaxy passes through a prism or reflects off a diffraction grating in a telescope, which captures the intensity of light from blue to red.
—Chris Impey, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
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Ben Croll, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
Is the Gaza takeover proposal a land grab by a president who sees the world through the prism of a New York real estate developer?
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The friendship could begin unburdened, and yet the prism of impending loss would increasingly shadow their later contacts.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
Light from the galaxy passes through a prism or reflects off a diffraction grating in a telescope, which captures the intensity of light from blue to red.
—Chris Impey, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
Cite this Entry
“Prism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prism. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prism
noun1
: a polyhedron with two opposite ends that are parallel polygons and faces that are each parallelograms
2
: a transparent object that usually has three sides and bends light so that it breaks up into rainbow colors
Medical Definition
prism
noun1
: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
2
: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
3
: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
especially
: one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
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