What this suffix does
-sighted describes eyesight or the ability to plan ahead: farsighted (visionary; also long-sighted), shortsighted (lacking foresight; also near-sighted).
ESEN
Suffix · forms adjectives
-sighted
Describes eyesight or the ability to anticipate the future: farsighted (able to see the bigger picture; also long-sighted) versus shortsighted (lacking foresight; also nearsighted).
In Spanish: de vista / de visiónIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Adjective + sighted.
- far + sightedfarsighted (able to see the bigger picture / long-sighted)
- short + sightedshortsighted (lacking foresight / nearsighted)
- clear + sightedclear-sighted (perceptive, clear-thinking)
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-sighted
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -sighted
In a phrase
- farfarsightedThe company's farsighted CEO invested early in new technology.
- shortshortsightedCutting the education budget was a shortsighted decision.
- clearclear-sightedShe gave a clear-sighted view of the risks involved.
- nearnearsightedHe's nearsighted, so he wears glasses to drive.
- longlong-sightedMy grandmother is long-sighted and needs reading glasses.
Common mistakes
farsighted = always positive; shortsighted = always negative
both describe the range of vision, literal or figurative — context determines the value
"Farsighted" in a medical context simply means able to see distant objects clearly but struggling at close range. In figurative use it is almost always positive (the farsighted leader, the farsighted policy). "Shortsighted" in medical use means the opposite. In figurative use it is almost always negative (a shortsighted decision, a shortsighted approach). These figurative charges are so strong they have become close to fixed idioms.
"clear-sighted" = having good eyesight
"clear-sighted" = thinking clearly and realistically, without illusions
"Clear-sighted" is almost exclusively figurative. It means perceiving the real situation without wishful thinking, self-deception, or emotional distortion. It suggests both intellectual honesty and courage: a clear-sighted assessment is one that says what is actually true rather than what is comfortable.
A trick to remember it
"Sighted" comes from "sight". Picture how far someone can see: far-SIGHTED = sees far away (or long-sighted), short-SIGHTED = only sees up close (or near-sighted). The same image applies to the future: far-sighted = sees far ahead in time.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"shortsighted" describes a decision that...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -sighted mean in English?
The suffix -sighted describes eyesight or the ability to anticipate the future: farsighted (able to see the bigger picture; also long-sighted) versus shortsighted (lacking foresight; also nearsighted). In Spanish it usually maps to de vista / de visión.
Can you give an example of a word with -sighted?
"far" becomes "farsighted". It is a typical example of the -sighted suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-eyed
Describes what someone's eyes are like, or how they see the world: wide-eyed (eyes wide open, naive) and eagle-eyed (sharp-sighted, observant).
-headed
having a specified type of mental clarity, character, or state of mind
-minded
Describes someone's way of thinking: open-minded (accepting of new ideas) versus narrow-minded (closed off, intolerant).
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