pictorial

1 of 2

adjective

pic·​to·​ri·​al pik-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce pictorial (audio)
1
: of or relating to a painter, a painting, or the painting or drawing of pictures
pictorial perspective
2
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of pictures
pictorial records
b
: illustrated by pictures
pictorial weekly
c
: consisting of or displaying the characteristics of pictographs
d
: suggesting or conveying visual images
pictorial poetry
pictorially adverb
pictorialness noun

pictorial

2 of 2

noun

: a periodical having much pictorial matter

Examples of pictorial in a Sentence

Adjective a pictorial record of the trip that photojournalist is planning to do a primarily pictorial report on the famine in Africa
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Dalla Ragione’s desk, really a six-foot-long wooden slab, is piled with books and research materials, including a 600-year-old book about agriculture, centuries-old reports by municipal authorities on the fates of various crops, and oversized pictorial books of the Renaissance masters. Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 Those little Hershey’s Kisses that form fences around discrete pictorial fields crystallize pattern as texture and texture as pattern. Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
Noun
Irina Shayk is the rare model who started in her 20s and transitioned from swimsuit and lingerie modeling to high-fashion pictorials to, nowadays, street style. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 Nov. 2023 In this photo, Jayson Tatum (right) and Celtics fans erupt after his basket at the buzzer defeated Kyrie Irving (left) and the Nets 115-114.Jim Davis/Globe Staff Jonathan Wiggs received an honorable mention in pictorial in the Boston Press Photographers Association’s 2022 annual contests. Kate Armanini, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for pictorial 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pictorial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin pictorius, from Latin pictor painter — more at picturesque

First Known Use

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pictorial was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near pictorial

Cite this Entry

“Pictorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pictorial. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pictorial

adjective
pic·​to·​ri·​al
pik-ˈtōr-ē-əl,
-ˈtȯr-
1
: of or relating to painting or drawing
pictorial art
2
: consisting of or illustrated by pictures
pictorial magazines
3
: suggesting or communicating vivid mental images
pictorial poetry
pictorially
-ē-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pictorial

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