# focal

/ˈfoʊkəɫ/ (US) · /fˈəʊkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/focal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. central or most important

adjective · CEFR B2

the most important or central part of something that everyone notices.

For teachers: relating to the main centre of interest, activity, or attention.

- The tall fountain was the focal point of the beautiful garden.
- The CEO's keynote address served as the focal event of the conference, setting the tone for all subsequent panel discussions.

### 2. limited to one area

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used in medicine or science to describe something that stays in one small area.

For teachers: limited to a specific, localized area of the body or a physical system.

- The doctor found a focal infection that had not spread to other organs.
- The MRI revealed a focal lesion in the left temporal lobe, which explained the patient's sudden onset of specific neurological symptoms.

### 3. a representative person

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

a person who acts as the main contact or representative for a group.

For teachers: an individual designated as the primary representative or point of contact for a specific group within an organization.

- She was appointed as the focal for the environmental committee.
- Each department must nominate a focal to coordinate with the central administration during the restructuring process.

## Examples

- The focal point of the room is the large fireplace.
- The manager made customer satisfaction the focal point of the new training program to improve the store's reputation.
- While the architect designed several impressive wings, the focal atrium remains the building's most significant achievement, drawing natural light into every floor through its expansive glass ceiling.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.