camera

noun

cam·​era ˈkam-rə 

ˈka-mə-rə

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

: camera obscura

2

: the treasury department of the papal curia

see also:

off camera on camera

Examples of camera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Although her persona as an actor will forever be entwined with a certain ‘90s sitcom, behind the camera Courteney Cox has a bit of a mean streak. — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

Pitt, 62, and de Ramon, 33, witnessed Elena Rybakina beat two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for her third Grand Slam title, and managed to more or less ignore cameras directly turned on them. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Meghan turned to wave at the camera before the scene transitioned to one of their children sitting by a fireplace. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2026

Deputies entered the information into Flock’s camera system and located the vehicle nearby along Highway 50, Cooper said in a video released on social media. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, room — more at chamber

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing camera

• body camera
• box camera
• camera lucida
• camera obscura
• camera person
• camera work
• candid camera
• catch (something) on camera
• dashboard camera
• digital camera
• doorbell camera
• gamma camera
• in camera
• off camera
• on camera
• Schmidt camera
• security camera
• streak camera
• video camera

Kids 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