cartography

noun

car·​tog·​ra·​phy kär-ˈtä-grə-fē 

: the science or art of making maps

cartographic

ˌkär-tə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

or less commonly cartographical

ˌkär-tə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

cartographically

ˌkär-tə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of cartography in a Sentence

She studied cartography in college.

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, seabed cartography was a scientific backwater. —Natalie Sum Yue Chung, Fortune, 3 May 2026

Color photography, cartography, and comprehensive articles contributed to the magazine’s expansion in the 1950s, reflecting growing public interest in travel coverage. —Suzanne Dundas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners couldn’t exist without Wilson’s cartography. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026

This concept truck from Jeep was designed with trail maintenance, cartography and cleanup in mind. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French cartographie, from carte card, map + -graphie -graphy — more at card entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cartography

• arthrography
• biography
• cosmography
• cryptography
• demography
• discography
• echography
• ethnography
• filmography
• geography
• hydrography
• lithography

Kids Definition

cartography

noun

car·​tog·​ra·​phy kär-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

: the making of maps

cartographic

ˌkärt-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective