magnification
noun
mag·ni·fi·ca·tion
ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument
called also power
Examples of magnification in a Sentence
We used a microscope to examine the cells under magnification.
At higher magnifications the differences between the cells become clear.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Whirlpool Galaxy, Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy are also relatively easy to spot with moderate equipment and medium magnification (a Dobsonian telescope is an excellent choice for galaxies).
—
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Glass from a broken bottle can cause magnification of the sun and set vegetation alight, Roise said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The current magnification of women’s basketball tops any previous point in history.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Under magnification the spores appear roundish, colorless, and smooth to slightly rough.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnification
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Glass from a broken bottle can cause magnification of the sun and set vegetation alight, Roise said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The current magnification of women’s basketball tops any previous point in history.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Under magnification the spores appear roundish, colorless, and smooth to slightly rough.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnification
Cite this Entry
“Magnification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnification. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
magnification
noun
mag·ni·fi·ca·tion
ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument
called also power
Medical Definition
magnification
noun
mag·ni·fi·ca·tion
ˌmag-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən
1
: the act of magnifying
2
a
: the state of being magnified
b
: the apparent enlargement of an object by an optical instrument that is the ratio of the dimensions of an image formed by the instrument to the corresponding dimensions of the object
called also power
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
