imagery

noun im·ag·ery \ ˈi-mij-rē , -mi-jə- \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of imagery

plural imageries

1 a : the product of image makers : images; also : the art of making images

b : pictures produced by an imaging system

2 : figurative language

3 : mental images; especially : the products of imagination

See imagery defined for English-language learners

See imagery defined for kids

Examples of imagery in a Sentence

The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery.
The movie was full of biblical imagery.

Recent Examples of imagery from the Web

The battle is full of metaphors and David vs. Goliath imagery.

— peter hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, "Tiny railroaders battle with state Expo over Napa’s past, future," 7 Apr. 2018
The clip includes some disturbing imagery from the new season and ends with a password: XOMEGACH.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "A guide to Westworld’s viral marketing, for fans who don’t want to translate binary code," 6 Apr. 2018
He was captured six months later with the help of informants, satellite imagery and intercepted cellphone communications.

— NBC News, "'What's up, Chapo?' DEA agent talks about capturing Mexican kingpin for first time," 4 Apr. 2018
Her mixture of historical motifs and modern imagery make for some bold beauties. 2.

— andrea alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "12 L.A.-Based Women Tattoo Artists You Need to Follow on Instagram," 2 Apr. 2018
Taking flash photos in regular intervals ups the creepy factor, especially as the mind’s eye is wont to create images out of shadows and streaks of light that are captured on digital imagery.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Chill out or be chilled in St. Augustine after dark," 1 Apr. 2018
We’ve gotten used to seeing nostalgic pop culture imagery on the runways lately, specifically references to the 1990s and early 2000s.

— brooke bobb, Vogue, "This Is What Fashion Nostalgia Looks Like at Istanbul Fashion Week," 30 Mar. 2018
Chinese modernist Zhang Daqian, Cao’s aesthetic godfather, took a similar approach in the 1960s, also topping off traditional imagery with splashes.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Cao Jun: the dance and the chance of it," 28 Mar. 2018
Here's the trailer for the new Wes Anderson movie There is truth to the argument that, outside of the beautiful visual cues, there's really no reason this movie had to be set in Japan except for the fact Anderson likes Japanese imagery.

— cary darling, Houston Chronicle, "Wes Anderson's 'Isle of Dogs' has bark and bite," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imagery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of imagery

Middle English ymagerie "images portrayed in sculpture, painting, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French, from ymage, image ¹image + -erie -ery

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

IMAGERY Defined for English Language Learners

imagery

noun

Definition of imagery for English Language Learners

: pictures or photographs
: language that causes people to imagine pictures in their mind
: pictures of people or things in a work of art

IMAGERY Defined for Kids

imagery

noun im·ag·ery \ ˈi-mij-rē , -mi-jə- \

Definition of imagery for Students

: pictures or photographs of something

satellite imagery

Medical Dictionary

imagery

noun im·ag·ery \ ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē \

medical Definition of imagery

plural imageries

: mental images

eidetic imagery

; especially : the products of imagination

psychotic imagery

Learn More about imagery

Spanish Central: Translation of imagery Nglish: Translation of imagery for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of imagery for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about imagery

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imagery

Definition of imagery

Examples of imagery in a Sentence

Recent Examples of imagery from the Web

Origin and Etymology of imagery

Other Fine Arts Terms

Phrases Related to IMAGERY

Related Phrases

IMAGERY Defined for English Language Learners

imagery

Definition of imagery for English Language Learners

IMAGERY Defined for Kids

imagery

Definition of imagery for Students

Medical Dictionary

imagery

medical Definition of imagery

Learn More about imagery

Seen and Heard

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