<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>(used with a singular verb) the branch of physical science that deals with the properties and phenomena of both visible and invisible light and with vision</li><li>(used with a plural verb) the way a situation, action, event, etc., is perceived by the public or by a particular group of people: The optics on this issue are pretty good for the Democrats. Administrators worry about the bad optics of hiring new staff during a budget crisis.</li></ul>