target

target — noun

1. a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice

1.nounB1
Definition

a flat surface marked with coloured circles that people shoot at during practice, or any physical object or location used as a mark for weapons such as guns or bows

Example

Amihan aimed her bow carefully and hit the centre of the target.

hit the centre of the target — archery context

The sound of targets being hit echoed from the shooting range behind the hospital.

passive: targets being hit

Common collocations
  • hit the target
  • miss the target
  • aim at the target
  • shoot at the target
  • paint a target
Synonyms
  • bullseye

    specifically the centre of a target, not the whole object

  • mark

    more general; can mean any visible object used as a target, often in informal settings

  • butt

    a mound or wall used as a target for archery or shooting practice — much narrower and less common

Common Mistakes

The soldier aimed at the target and shooted.
The soldier aimed at the target and shot.
'shoot' is an irregular verb; its past form is 'shot', not 'shooted'.

2. the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service

2.nounB1
Definition

the particular person, group, or audience that a product, advertisement, service, or message is designed to reach

Example

The new magazine's target is women who enjoy cooking and gardening at home.

noun: target + is + [group]

Advertisements for baby products clearly identify their target as new parents.

identify their target as [group]

Common collocations
  • target audience
  • target market
  • target group
  • target customer
  • target demographic
Synonyms
  • audience

    broader — anyone who reads, watches, or listens, not necessarily the intended receiver

  • demographic

    a statistical group of people defined by age, income, location, etc.; more technical and data-driven

  • market

    focuses on commercial potential and buying behaviour rather than the communication target

Usage Note

Often placed before another noun to form a compound: 'target audience', 'target market', 'target customer', 'target demographic'. In this compound pattern the word functions as an attributive noun (modifier).

3. a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly

3.nounB2
Definition

a person or group that others criticize, make fun of, or treat badly

Example

After the product recall, the company became the target of angry customers and journalists.

became the target of [group]

Tamar was an easy target for jokes because of her bright purple jacket.

an easy target for [something]

Common collocations
  • target of criticism
  • target of jokes
  • easy target
  • become a target
  • make someone a target
Synonyms
  • victim

    stronger implication of harm or injustice; the person has been hurt, not just criticised

  • scapegoat

    someone unfairly blamed for the mistakes of others; narrower than 'target'

  • butt

    mainly used in the fixed phrase 'butt of a joke'; less common outside that pattern

Usage Note

Frequently appears in the fixed expression 'easy target' (someone who is vulnerable to criticism or attack). Common collocating verbs: 'become a target', 'make someone a target', 'be a target for/of'.

Common Mistakes

He was target of their jokes.
He was the target of their jokes.
The definite article 'the' is required in this expression.

4. a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain pe

4.nounA2
Definition

a specific result, level, or number that you plan to achieve within a certain period, especially in business, finance, education, or personal development

Example

Élise set a target of reading one book every week for the whole year.

set a target of + [gerund phrase]

The sales team reached their annual target three months before the deadline.

reached / missed / exceeded target

Common collocations
  • set a target
  • reach a target
  • meet a target
  • miss a target
  • exceed a target
  • achieve a target
Synonyms
  • goal

    more general and personal; can be abstract ('my goal is happiness'), while 'target' is specific and measurable

  • objective

    more formal; common in business and military planning

  • aim

    suggests general direction of effort rather than a precise figure

Usage Note

Common verbs paired with this sense: 'set a target', 'reach a target', 'meet a target', 'miss a target', 'achieve a target', 'exceed a target'. A 'target' in this sense is always measurable and concrete, unlike 'goal' which can be more abstract.

Common Mistakes

I made a target to lose weight.
I set a target of losing five kilograms in two months.
'Set' is the correct verb, and measurable details are needed.

target — verb

Word family

  • targeted
    adjectiveB2
  • targeting
    nounC1
  • untargeted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/4

All four words refer to something you want to achieve, but they differ in concreteness and context. 'Goal' is the most general and personal — it can be abstract (a goal of living a simple life) or concrete (a goal of running a marathon). 'Aim' suggests the general direction of your effort rather than a specific end point ('Her aim is to help others'). 'Objective' is more formal and is common in business, military, and academic planning; it often implies smaller, measurable steps within a larger mission. 'Target' is the most specific and measurable of the four — it nearly always includes a number, a deadline, or a concrete result ('a sales target of $2 million'). In everyday conversation, 'goal' is the safest choice. In a business meeting, 'target' or 'objective' sounds more professional. A useful distinction: you can have a 'goal' of being healthier, but you set a 'target' of walking 8,000 steps a day.

goal ↗aim ↗objective ↗target ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • target audience
  • target market
  • target group
  • target date
  • target price
  • target area
  • target range

Adverbs

  • specifically targeted
  • directly targeted
  • deliberately targeted
  • clearly targeted

Phrases

  • on target
  • off target
  • hit the target
  • miss the target
  • above target
  • below target

Prepositions

  • target for
  • target of
  • target at (verb)

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'target' entered English from Old French 'targette', meaning a small shield. The French word came from a Germanic root found in Old Norse 'targa' (shield). In the 16th century the meaning shifted from 'shield' to 'round board used for shooting practice', since shields were sometimes used as practice marks. By the 18th century the sense had broadened to include any object aimed at, and later to abstract goals and intended audiences.