visual aid

noun

: an instructional device (such as a chart, map, or model) that appeals chiefly to vision
especially : an educational motion picture or filmstrip

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web To help illustrate the extent of Kelly’s enterprise, the prosecution prepared an old-fashioned visual aid: A board full of photos — featuring the singer’s business managers, personal assistants, runners, security personnel, drivers, and more — arranged with Kelly at the center. Elias Leight, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2021 The lifesaving steps are better ingrained in a child’s mind with the help of a lovable visual aid such as Molly, Hilton said. Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2023 What that ridiculous, Professor Klumpian getup suggests is that Luhrmann (or at least his financiers) refused to believe that audiences would accept Hanks as a bad guy without the visual aid of a total physical transformation. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2022 Figure 3 provides a visual aid in understanding the differences in these PM groups, as well as how these particles correspond to more understandable physical item diameters, such as an average human hair or an average grain of sand. Guest, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2019 Mueller on Tuesday used a screen set up in the courtroom and a PowerPoint presentation as a visual aid to bolster his argument for Masterson’s guilt. Diana Dasrath, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022 Pulling in a visual aid as evidence, London shared a piece of paper containing a list of the three actresses vying for the role in 2005. Justine Browning, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2022 Lighting fixtures and controls were carefully chosen to provide maximum visual aid, and sound insulation was installed in the walls between the rooms, floors, and ceilings to reduce noise. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2022 As students learn songs by heart, the visual aid can be turned off. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Jan. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'visual aid.' 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

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of visual aid was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near visual aid

Cite this Entry

“Visual aid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/visual%20aid. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

visual aid

noun
: an instructional device (as a chart, map, or model) that appeals chiefly to vision
especially : an educational movie or filmstrip
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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