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Definition of hindsight

hindsight

/ˈhaɪndsaɪt/
hind · sight
Plural:hindsights
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hindsight Lexical Profile

hindsight Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Understanding or perception of the nature and significance of a situation or event only after it has happened.

Example

"With the benefit of hindsight, the board realized that expanding into the overseas market so rapidly had been a miscalculation."

2

The rear sighting device on a firearm or optical instrument, located closer to the user's eye than the front sight.

Example

"The technician carefully calibrated the alignment between the foresight and the hindsight on the surveying instrument."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hindsight

• Nearby Words

hindquarter
hindquarters
hindrance
hindsight
hindu kush
hinge
hinge back tortoise

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'hind' (from Old English 'hindan', meaning at the back or after) and 'sight', formed on the model of 'foresight'. Originally used literally to denote the rear sight of a firearm before acquiring its figurative sense of retrospective understanding.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hindsight. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hindsight
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