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
Hot Frosty is an allegory for the life of Jesus as told through the prism of a perpetually damp and sleeveless guy who used to be on Schitt’s Creek and Lacey Chabert.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
The first feature explores the tension between people who stayed on in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and those who left, through the prism of two siblings, one who fled to Berlin, and one who enrolled to serve on the frontline.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The song refracts like a prism at high noon, filled with stuttering blips that shapeshift at each turn.
—Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024
As at Tornabuoni, the inspirations and individual pieces of furniture that enrich the South Florida house share a classical aesthetic that Kahan and Howard refracted through a prism of modernism.
—Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prism 
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
The first feature explores the tension between people who stayed on in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and those who left, through the prism of two siblings, one who fled to Berlin, and one who enrolled to serve on the frontline.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The song refracts like a prism at high noon, filled with stuttering blips that shapeshift at each turn.
—Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024
As at Tornabuoni, the inspirations and individual pieces of furniture that enrich the South Florida house share a classical aesthetic that Kahan and Howard refracted through a prism of modernism.
—Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prism
Dictionary Entries Near prism
Cite this Entry
“Prism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prism. Accessed 6 Jan. 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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