photogenic

adjective

pho·​to·​ge·​nic ˌfō-tə-ˈje-nik  -ˈjē- 

1

: produced or precipitated by light

photogenic dermatitis

2

: producing or generating light : phosphorescent

photogenic bacteria

3

: suitable for being photographed especially because of visual appeal

a photogenic smile

photogenically

ˌfō-tə-ˈje-ni-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈjē-

adverb

Examples of photogenic in a Sentence

She's a very photogenic child.

This is the city's most photogenic park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Where to experience a tea ceremony in Japan A traditional Japanese garden is a photogenic background to the tea ceremony at Camellia Kyoto, which has English-speaking staff. —Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 12 June 2025

More active wine tourists can book popular e-bike tours, plan walks, or run beside the photogenic hills and vineyards. —Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

Piper, a photogenic 4-year-old terrier, pit bull mix, wants nothing but the safety and love of a good home and a family. —Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025

The boat, which features a sleek and sloped white exterior, made its photogenic debut at the Ferretti Group shipyard in Ancora, Italy, earlier this year. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 25 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for photogenic

• allergenic
• androgenic
• antigenic
• authigenic
• autogenic
• biogenic
• bronchogenic
• chromogenic
• cryogenic
• echogenic
• estrogenic
• isogenic

Kids Definition

photogenic

adjective

pho·​to·​ge·​nic ˌfōt-ə-ˈjen-ik  -ˈjēn- 

: suitable for being photographed : likely to photograph well

a photogenic child

photogenically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

photogenic

adjective

pho·​to·​gen·​ic ˌfōt-ə-ˈjen-ik 

1

: produced or precipitated by light

photogenic epilepsy

photogenic dermatitis

2

: producing or generating light : phosphorescent

photogenic bacteria