What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
boresight
Example
The soldier spent time boresighting his rifle before heading to the shooting range. [boresight: verb]
Example
The boresight showed that the scope was misaligned with the barrel. [boresight: noun]
sighting
Example
We had a sighting of a rare bird species during our hike. [sighting: noun]
Example
The hunter carefully sighted his rifle before taking the shot. [sighted: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sighting is more commonly used than boresight in everyday language. Sighting has a broader range of contexts and can be used in various situations, such as spotting something in nature or aiming at a target. Boresight, on the other hand, is more specific to firearms and optics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between boresight and sighting?
Both boresight and sighting are generally used in technical or specialized contexts, making them more formal in nature. However, sighting can also be used in casual conversations when referring to spotting something in nature.