tele·pho·to
ˌte-lə-ˈfō-(ˌ)tō 
: being a camera lens system designed to give a large image of a distant object
also
: relating to or being photography in which a telephoto lens is used
plural telephotos
1
: a telephoto lens
2
: a photograph taken with a camera having a telephoto lens
—used for an apparatus for transmitting photographs electrically or for a photograph so transmitted
Examples of telephoto in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
For similar, but more detailed, close-up telephoto images of the moon, use at least a 200mm lens — ideally 400mm or longer — on a mirrorless or DSLR camera mounted on a sturdy tripod (or attached to a telescope using a T-ring adapter).
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
While Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra featured two telephoto cameras, the 17 Ultra combines them into one.
—Dominic Preston, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2026
During the night, an enterprising photographer with a telephoto lens sneaked upstairs in a building opposite Children’s and found a window in line with Patrick’s room.
—Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for telephoto
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Noun
Apple claims a 2x optical zoom in and 2x optical zoom out, but the 17 does not have a telephoto camera.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
For similar, but more detailed, close-up telephoto images of the moon, use at least a 200mm lens — ideally 400mm or longer — on a mirrorless or DSLR camera mounted on a sturdy tripod (or attached to a telescope using a T-ring adapter).
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
While Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra featured two telephoto cameras, the 17 Ultra combines them into one.
—Dominic Preston, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2026
During the night, an enterprising photographer with a telephoto lens sneaked upstairs in a building opposite Children’s and found a window in line with Patrick’s room.
—Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for telephoto
Cite this Entry
“Telephoto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephoto. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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