daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-ō-ˌtīp 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-,

-rə-,

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtīp,

-ˈger-ē-

: an early photograph produced on a silver or a silver-covered copper plate

also : the process of producing such photographs

daguerreotype transitive verb

daguerreotypist

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pist 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

daguerreotypy

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pē 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

Examples of daguerreotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The daguerreotype of John C. Calhoun was what led Shumard to hunt down other early prints in the museum’s collections. —Kaila Philo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025

Not everyone could make a daguerreotype, but nearly everyone could own one. —Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 24 May 2025

The book details the way daguerreotypes, lithographs, cartes de visite and steam printing presses enabled artists to advocate for social reform, including the Abolitionist movement. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2025

The Portrait Gallery features daguerreotypes of U.S. Senators Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun, as well as a lithograph of the latter. —Kaila Philo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French daguerréotype, from L. J. M. Daguerre + French -o- + type

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daguerreotype

• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype
• genotype
• haplotype
• holotype
• hypotype
• isotype
• lectotype
• linotype

Kids Definition

daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-(ē-)ō-ˌtīp 

: an early photograph produced on a metal plate

Etymology

named for L. J. M. Daguerre 1789–1851 French painter and inventor