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

Reps for Young and Baez declined to comment, much like reps for Bob Dylan, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen, and others who have passed on making statements about AI imagery that’s hoodwinked whatever percentage of their fan bases. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025

Every day, we are inundated with imagery urging us to work harder, buy more … and never stop. —Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025

The character has already been shown in trailers alongside glimpses of Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man — all evoking classic imagery from the 1939 Wizard of Oz without giving too much away about the characters’ surprise-twist identities. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025

Other carvings show human-like figures, feline imagery and a flower or shield image, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025

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