imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈi-mij-rē 

-mi-jə-

plural imageries

1

a

: pictures produced by an imaging system

b

: the product of image makers : images

also : the art of making images

2

: figurative language

3

: mental images

especially : the products of imagination

Examples of imagery in a Sentence

The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery.

The movie was full of biblical imagery.

Recent Examples on the Web

This could be intentional: If such imagery has a market, maybe companies would begin to converge around it. —Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2024

The film is rooted in an ancestral, almost sacred territory – Alentejo in Portugal – allowing for the intrusion of symbolic imagery. —Lucía Requejo, Variety, 14 Aug. 2024

Taking charge of the narrative surrounding the Kim/Kanye phone call drama, Taylor adopted the snake — a symbol originally used against her — as the motif of the era, especially the imagery of a snake shedding their skin in order to regenerate themselves. —Courtesy Of Esther Newman., refinery29.com, 14 Aug. 2024

With a focus on timepieces and jewelry, the imagery highlights the gold-tone Maren watch, a pavé-trimmed rose gold-tone Sag watch, a petite Lexington watch in gold-tone with pave trim and the brand’s Emery wrap watch. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing imagery

• satellite imagery

Kids Definition

imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē 

plural imageries

1

: images that can be seen or that are imagined

2

: language that suggests how someone or something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes

Medical Definition

imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē 

plural imageries

: mental images

eidetic imagery

especially : the products of imagination

psychotic imagery