photographic

adjective

pho·​to·​graph·​ic ˌfō-tə-ˈgra-fik 

1

: relating to, obtained by, or used in photography

2

: representing nature and human beings with the exactness of a photograph

3

: capable of retaining vivid impressions

a photographic memory

photographically

ˌfō-tə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of photographic in a Sentence

photographic images of the galaxy

Recent Examples on the Web

Most Democrats and voting rights groups have warned the legislation could disenfranchise millions of voters by imposing citizenship and photographic identification requirements. —Justin Papp, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026

Incorporating personal narratives into explorations of design elements, and photographic techniques. —Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

Today, the museum is home to more than 32,000 works of art, and the merger in 2023 with the Museum of Photographic Arts only expanded that collection, adding to the museum’s photographic collections. —Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

His prose has a photographic quality that just takes my breath away. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing photographic

• photographic memory

Rhymes for photographic

• autographic
• biographic
• calligraphic
• cartographic
• cryptographic
• demographic
• epigraphic
• ethnographic
• geographic
• holographic
• hydrographic
• lithographic

Kids Definition

photographic

adjective

pho·​to·​graph·​ic ˌfōt-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

1

: relating to, obtained by, or used in photography

photographic supplies

2

: capable of remembering details exactly

a photographic memory

photographically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb