imagery

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

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Examples: imagery in a Sentence

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

Even more surprising than the imagery is the language candidates are using.

— jill filipovic, The New Republic, "Female candidates are turning gender and motherhood into political assets in the midterms.," 29 May 2018
Yes, the gear is still clunky, and the imagery is a notch or two below Ultra HD.

— arthur levine, USA TODAY, "Star Wars virtual reality at the Void in Disney World and Disneyland," 22 May 2018
The campaign features models of varying shapes, sizes, genders and skin tones, and the imagery and messaging are impactful.

— zoë weiner, Teen Vogue, "TomboyX Launches an Underwear Collection That Is Shade, Gender, and Size Inclusive," 18 May 2018
The symbolism in its dancing, staging and violent imagery has been the subject of robust interpretation.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "This is America: Childish Gambino, blacks living life and whites calling 911," 17 May 2018
Given how difficult a target North Korea is, due to its isolation, the satellite imagery generated by NGA has long been incredibly important to the US government.

— jenna mclaughlin, CNN, "US doubles down on tracking North Korea ahead of Trump, Kim meeting," 29 Apr. 2018
The imagery was so crisp that the story goes when Gorbachev was bluffing Reagan about where the Soviet missile launchers were located, Reagan slid an envelope across the table.

— cal fussman, Popular Mechanics, "My Father Escaped the Nazis And Then Taught Me Everything I Know," 15 June 2016
Where mountains meet the plain Telfer and his colleagues analyzed the imagery New Horizons captured during its epic flyby.

— mike wall, Scientific American, "Pluto Has Dunes, But They’re Not Made of Sand," 1 June 2018
Groups of whales spend more time at the surface and make for much more dramatic imagery.

— jeffrey kluger, Time, "How Drones Are Helping Scientists Study and Protect Endangered Whales," 31 May 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

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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

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