In a recent talk about shelter space at King County Jail, the word “optics” came up more than usual.
Merriam-Webster defines this as “the aspects of an action, policy, or decision (as in politics or business) that relate to public perceptions.”
Let’s use it in a sentence.
“Symbolism matters,” Harris said. “Just the optics of housing homeless people in a jail are horrible,” (Seattle Times, Oct. 6). ...