telephoto

1 of 3

adjective

tele·​pho·​to ˌte-lə-ˈfō-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce telephoto (audio)
: 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

telephoto

2 of 3

noun

plural telephotos
1
: a telephoto lens
2
: a photograph taken with a camera having a telephoto lens

Telephoto

3 of 3

trademark

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
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Noun
Apple says this camera is capable of 12MP optical-quality 2x telephoto images. PC Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025 The 48 megapixel camera houses a telephoto lens with 1x, 2x, 4x and 8× optical zoom and 8K recording capabilities. James Powel, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 The professional-level camera also has Center Stage and a new telephoto camera that can zoom in up to eight times optical zoom, the longest ever on an iPhone. Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Cameras includes a separate telephoto lens and something called Center Stage, which switches automatically from portrait to landscape without having to rotate the device. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for telephoto

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of telephoto was in 1893

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Cite this Entry

“Telephoto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephoto. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

telephoto

adjective
tele·​pho·​to
ˌtel-ə-ˈfōt-ō
: being a camera lens designed to give a large image of a distant object

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