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
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
Kevin OklobzijaWhen 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
Michael FarrellExamples of stock photo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boasting panoramic views of the water, beachfront dining, and a spa so relaxing as to be borderline lobotomizing, the hotel offers a stock photo of a vacation.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026
Currently, the kiosk signs throughout downtown La Grange mostly display a mix of outdated content, Joseph said, with one side usually being a town map, another side listing upcoming community events, and the remaining panels filled with old stock photos that haven’t been changed in years.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
The Adobe Stock service that offers stock photos and other media, representing a book of business of around $450 billion, declined more sharply than management had predicted during the quarter.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The stock photo was taken by National Geographic photographer Charles O’Rear.
—Christopher Schaberg, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stock photo
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026
Currently, the kiosk signs throughout downtown La Grange mostly display a mix of outdated content, Joseph said, with one side usually being a town map, another side listing upcoming community events, and the remaining panels filled with old stock photos that haven’t been changed in years.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
The Adobe Stock service that offers stock photos and other media, representing a book of business of around $450 billion, declined more sharply than management had predicted during the quarter.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The stock photo was taken by National Geographic photographer Charles O’Rear.
—Christopher Schaberg, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stock photo
Cite this Entry
“Stock photo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stock%20photo. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
