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

Enable Night Mode or Pro Mode, use the main camera lens, and stabilize the phone with a tripod or solid surface. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

One couple who didn't want to be on camera was out working hard to dig out what looked like an unplowed area at Hermitage and Smick streets. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Those characterizations outraged his family and Democratic politicians, who pointed to bystander videos showing Pretti helping a woman who had been pushed by an ICE agent and holding only his camera. —Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026

In addition to the plate readers, cellular site analysis and surveillance cameras helped law enforcement identify Le as a passenger in the car. —Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 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
• 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