noun
optics
OP-tihks
noun
1
The branch of physics that studies light and vision.
"She's taking a course in optics this semester."
2
How something looks to the public, especially in politics or business, regardless of the underlying facts.
"The company worried the layoffs would create bad optics right before the earnings call."
How to Use Optics
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the science of light and vision, or — informally — how a decision or event appears to onlookers.
When to use it
The "public perception" sense is common in journalism and business but is fairly informal.
Common pairings
bad optics
the optics of
consider the optics
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She's taking a course in _____ this semester.