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 off camera, on camera
Examples of camera in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wheat Ridge has collected about $188,000 from the cameras at the time of publication.
—
Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
The action knocked the camera operator into a free fall, although the operator did land safely with only minor injury, according to the report.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Whether influenced by popular culture or just chosen as a handy location, there’s a host of places that were built just for visitors and their cameras – and, of course, their wallets.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Cinco makes two that have shown up on camera 16 times between them in a span of 3 ½ months.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camera
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Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
The action knocked the camera operator into a free fall, although the operator did land safely with only minor injury, according to the report.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Whether influenced by popular culture or just chosen as a handy location, there’s a host of places that were built just for visitors and their cameras – and, of course, their wallets.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Cinco makes two that have shown up on camera 16 times between them in a span of 3 ½ months.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camera
Cite this Entry
“Camera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camera. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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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