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
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Adjective
At the Met, his depictions of the life of Saint Nicholas bathe us in expressiveness, insight, and pictorial complexity. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024 Scenic Christmas Plates Find artful (and highly collectible) pictorial holiday plates to star in your dinner theater. Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
By contrast, animation foregrounds the pictorial, which is its own aesthetic doctrine. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for pictorial 

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 28 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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