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

The stars of Next Gen are part of this tribe, and Eskelin says the cameras just happened to trail them down here. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026

Florida Department of Transportation cameras show traffic is not significantly affected by the fire. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026

The cracks and curves of the top design were visible in floodlights and flash of the camera on the carpet. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Low light can also obscure visual information rather than simply make an image darker, and nighttime conditions vary with cameras, shadows, glare and other sources of noise. — Bo Wang, The Conversation, 28 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