crosshair

noun

cross·​hair ˈkrȯs-ˌher 

: a fine wire or thread in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument used as a reference line in the field or for marking the instrumental axis

—used figuratively to describe someone or something being targeted as if through an aiming device having crosshairs

… in the crosshairs this political season

—J. H. Alter

Examples of crosshair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since Alibaba’s Jack Ma’s fall from grace, Chinese entrepreneurs are hesitant to grow and take the limelight for fear of getting in the crosshairs with Xi Jinping’s administration. —Stéphane Jg Girod, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

Earlier in the week, forecast models put Alabama and the Florida Panhandle in the storm’s crosshairs. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2024

But in a win for Southwest, CEO Bob Jordan — who had been in Elliott's crosshairs — will stay on the job. —Pete Gannon, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024

Trump has a history of using litigation as a weapon against the media, and several press freedom advocates expressed concern to The Hill earlier this week that the ABC lawsuit could send the wrong message to any news organization that finds itself in Trump’s legal crosshairs. —Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cross hair

noun

: one of the very thin wires or threads in the eyepiece of an optical instrument (as a microscope) used as a reference line