stock photo

noun

plural stock photos
: a photographic image of a generic subject (such as a person, object, or location) that is kept for later use
Prevailing wisdom among dealers is that online shoppers prefer real photos of new vehicles in inventory over stock photos from the manufacturer and others.David Barkholz
[Suzanne] Rodriguez has more than a decade of experience in digital advertising and professional photography. Stock photos often can be found on the websites of small businesses, but custom photos provide a more accurate characterization of the firm, she said.Kevin Oklobzija
When the National Enquirer needed a close-up photo of a snail for one of its … stories, it didn't send a phalanx of photographers out into the garden with cameras in hand. Instead, it called on a small stock photo service in Chatham that specializes in pictures of animals and nature …Michael Farrell

Examples of stock photo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The intrigue: Though the judge is aware of the chatroom and the court posts stock photos of lunches and juries to signal breaks and recesses, McBurney doesn't play to the crowd or engage in banter. Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024 Digital products can range from e-books, online courses, stock photos, software, or even printables. Melissa Houston, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 That means getting a personal look at the hotels and destinations available to book, instead of encountering the same stock photos. Caitlin White, Variety, 23 Sep. 2024 The stock photo is on the left, and the AI fake is on the right. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for stock photo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stock photo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stock photo was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near stock photo

Cite this Entry

“Stock photo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stock%20photo. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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