pictorial

play

adjective pic·to·ri·al \ pik-ˈtȯr-ē-əl \

Definition of pictorial

1 :of or relating to a painter, a painting, or the painting or drawing of pictures

pictorial perspective

2 a :of, relating to, or consisting of pictures

pictorial records

b :illustrated by pictures

pictorial weekly

c :consisting of or displaying the characteristics of pictographs

d :suggesting or conveying visual images

pictorial poetry

—

pictorially

play \pik-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

—

pictorialness

noun

See pictorial defined for English-language learners

See pictorial defined for kids

Examples of pictorial in a Sentence

a pictorial record of the trip
that photojournalist is planning to do a primarily pictorial report on the famine in Africa

Recent Examples of pictorial from the Web

Eastern Indiana is well represented in IndyStar’s new hardcover, commemorative pictorial book ‘

— staff report, Indianapolis Star, "Eastern Indiana high schools featured in basketball pictorial book," 22 Aug. 2017
Fauna and flora share pictorial space in several paintings.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "Gliese a natural at depicting nature," 18 Aug. 2017
Two years later, a lush pictorial in Life magazine depicted island living in Tahiti as the ultimate Robinson Crusoe-meets-Hugh Hefner idyll.

— mark ellwood, CNT, "The Story Behind the World's First Overwater Bungalows," 11 Aug. 2017
A pictorial timeline of former Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman’s four-plus years with the team.

— joseph person, charlotteobserver, "Highs and lows from Dave Gettleman’s time as Panthers GM," 17 July 2017
The negatives tell a pictorial history of the last century of Kansas City.

— jacob gedetsis, kansascity, "This couple’s KC-themed collection is so huge they bought a second house to hold it," 14 July 2017
Relive the greatest moments in Indiana high school basketball with IndyStar's new hardcover, commemorative pictorial book History of Our Hysteria: Indiana High School Basketball, documenting our abiding love affair with the game.

— kyle neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "Notebook: After sister's death, Jared Hankins plays 'like every game is your last'," 14 July 2017
If men are allowed to enjoy pictorial sexts from lovers, why can’t their partners?

— sophie saint thomas, Allure, "The 9 Do’s And Don’ts Of Dick Pics," 14 July 2017
Conzen estimates that more than 5,000 pictorial atlases were produced during their heyday in the latter half of the 19th century.

— greg miller, National Geographic, "Charming 19th-Century Atlases Were the Facebook of Their Day," 5 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of pictorial

Late Latin pictorius, from Latin pictor painter — more at picturesque

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1646

See Words from the same year

pictorial Synonyms

Synonyms

graphic (also graphical), imaginal, visual

Related Words

photographic, video; drawn, painted, represented; illustrational, illustrative; hieroglyphic (also hieroglyphical), iconographic (or iconographical), ideogramic (or ideogrammic), ideogrammatic, ideographic, pictographic

Near Antonyms

indeterminate, nebulous, obscure, sketchy, unclear, vague; bleary, blurry, dark, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, muddy, murky, shadowlike, shadowy; ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic (also enigmatical), equivocal, inscrutable, mysterious

pictorial

noun

Definition of pictorial

:a periodical having much pictorial matter

First Known Use of pictorial

1844

PICTORIAL Defined for English Language Learners

pictorial

play

adjective

Definition of pictorial for English Language Learners

: of or relating to painting or drawing
: having or using pictures

PICTORIAL Defined for Kids

pictorial

play

adjective pic·to·ri·al \ pik-ˈtȯr-ē-əl \

Definition of pictorial for Students

1 :of or relating to pictures

pictorial art

2 :having or using pictures

a pictorial magazine

Learn More about pictorial

See words that rhyme with pictorial Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pictorial Spanish Central: Translation of pictorial Nglish: Translation of pictorial for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pictorial for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pictorial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

pictorial

Definition of pictorial

pictorially

pictorialness

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

Examples of pictorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples of pictorial from the Web

Origin and Etymology of pictorial

pictorial Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

pictorial

Definition of pictorial

First Known Use of pictorial

PICTORIAL Defined for English Language Learners

pictorial

Definition of pictorial for English Language Learners

PICTORIAL Defined for Kids

pictorial

Definition of pictorial for Students

Learn More about pictorial

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066