1
a
: a device that consists of a lightproof chamber with an aperture fitted with a lens and a shutter through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface for recording (as on a photosensitive film or an electronic sensor) or for translation into electrical impulses (as for television broadcast)
b
2
: the treasury department of the papal curia
see also:
Examples of camera in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 July 2026
The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast.
—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
The area last week was surrounded by surveillance cameras and patrolled by National Guardsmen as lifelong resident John Cates strolled the area.
—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Their character's absence was alluded to in Fuller House's first episode, when the characters broke the fourth wall by knowingly looking in to the camera.
—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for camera
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Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 July 2026
The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast.
—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
The area last week was surrounded by surveillance cameras and patrolled by National Guardsmen as lifelong resident John Cates strolled the area.
—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Their character's absence was alluded to in Fuller House's first episode, when the characters broke the fourth wall by knowingly looking in to the camera.
—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for camera
Cite this Entry
“Camera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camera. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
camera
noun
cam·era
ˈkam-(ə-)rə 
1
: a judge's private office
hearings held in camera
2
: a lightproof box fitted with a lens through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface that is sensitive to light for recording (as on film) or for converting into electrical signals (as for a live television broadcast)
Etymology
from Latin camera "room, chamber"; sense 2 from the scientific Latin phrase camera obscura, literally, "dark chamber" — related to chamber
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