sighting

IPA/ˈsaɪtɪŋ/
KK[sˈaɪtɪŋ]IPA/ˈsaɪtɪŋ/

sighting — noun

  • sightingsingular
  • sightingsplural

1. a moment or event in which someone catches a brief view of a person, animal, or

1.nounB1
Definition

a moment or event in which someone catches a brief view of a person, animal, or object — especially one that is rare, unusual, or difficult to spot.

Example

Birdwatchers reported the first sighting of a rare egret at the coastal reserve this spring.

first sighting of + noun — pattern for initial observations

Wren reported a sighting of strange lights above the hills near her farm.

make a sighting of — common verb + noun collocation

Common collocations
  • sighting of + (rare animal / UFO / celebrity / land)
  • first / confirmed / alleged / reported sighting
  • make a sighting
  • report a sighting
  • record a sighting
  • confirm a sighting
Synonyms
  • glimpse

    a quick or partial look; 'glimpse' emphasises brevity, while 'sighting' emphasises that the target is notable or rare

  • observation

    more systematic and often prolonged; used in scientific or formal contexts

  • viewing

    usually planned or intentional (e.g., a private viewing of artwork), unlike the chance nature of a sighting

Grammar Patterns

sighting of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with a modifier that describes the thing seen (e.g., UFO sighting, bear sighting, celebrity sighting) or a qualifier like first, confirmed, or alleged.

Common Mistakes

I made a sight of a rare bird in the garden.
I made a sighting of a rare bird in the garden.
'sight' as a noun means the thing you see or the ability to see; 'sighting' is the event of seeing something noteworthy.
I had a sighting of my neighbour this morning.
I had a sighting of a famous actor this morning.
'sighting' suggests the person or thing seen is unusual, rare, or hard to find, not an everyday event.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe the act of seeing, but they differ in duration, intention, and the nature of what is seen. A sighting is a brief, often chance encounter with something rare or hard to find — you might report a UFO sighting or a bear sighting. A glimpse is any quick or partial look, whether the target is rare or ordinary: 'I caught a glimpse of her as she ran past.' An observation is more deliberate and sustained, common in scientific or professional settings ('The doctor's observation of the patient lasted an hour'). A viewing is planned and usually involves an audience ('a private viewing of the film before its release'). Use sighting when the key idea is rarity or the unexpected nature of the discovery.

sighting ↗glimpse ↗observation ↗viewing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sighting report
  • sighting log
  • sighting record

Phrases

  • make a sighting
  • report a sighting
  • confirm a sighting
  • record a sighting
  • describe a sighting

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun 'sight' (from Old English 'siht' / 'gesiht', meaning 'the act of seeing') plus the suffix '-ing', which creates a noun referring to an instance or occasion of the action. The meaning 'an occasion of catching sight of something notable' dates from the mid-19th century, originally used in the context of spotting land or ships at sea.