imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈi-mij-rē 

-mi-jə-

plural imageries

1

a

: pictures produced by an imaging system

imagery from the satellite

b

: the product of image makers : images

A host of computer animation tools … have made it easier to create, manipulate, and multiply imagery.

—Dike Blair et al.

also : the art of making images

2

: figurative language

a poem with biblical imagery

3

: mental images

especially : the products of imagination

Examples of imagery in a Sentence

The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery.

The movie was full of biblical imagery.

Recent Examples on the Web

The imagery of the song chimes with some of Bowie’s deepest spiritual preoccupations. —Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

Some brands, like Déesse, share before-and-after imagery of people who’ve used their devices consistently over weeks or months. —Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026

The Sentinel-2 satellites are designed to capture wide-swath, high-resolution imagery in 13 spectral bands, making the mission especially useful for tracking changes to land, coasts, snow and ice over time. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2026

The 21-year-old daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin returns in ethereal new imagery for the clothing brand, photographed in upstate New York. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymagerie "images portrayed in sculpture, painting, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French, from ymage, image image entry 1 + -erie -ery

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing imagery

• satellite imagery

Kids Definition

imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē 

plural imageries

1

: images that can be seen or that are imagined

2

: language that suggests how someone or something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes

Medical Definition

imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē 

plural imageries

: mental images

eidetic imagery

especially : the products of imagination

psychotic imagery