photography

noun

pho·​tog·​ra·​phy fə-ˈtä-grə-fē How to pronounce photography (audio)
: the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface (such as film or an optical sensor)

Examples of photography in a Sentence

He studied both film and still photography. Landscape photography is her hobby.
Recent Examples on the Web Just don't call it a gift shop — there are rows upon rows of Stetson cowboy hats, thousand-dollar shearling coats from fashion designer Lindsey Thornburg, glossy photography books, plushies for children, and willow-bark pens made from trees that grow nearby. Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2024 At the intersection, the ligand between society and art is the medium of photography. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 The newly unearthed inconsistencies in a second royal picture puts Kate at the center of yet more questions, and threatens to wreck the royals’ relationships with leading news and photography agencies. Rob Picheta, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 There’s a very tender moment between him and his son, Dylan, 30, who feels hurt about being the center of his father’s photography his entire life. Anna Goldwater Alexander, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024 The costume design, by Big Little Lies’ Alix Friedberg, and production direction, by Westworld’s Jon Carlos, make Palm Royale feel like Game of Thrones for the kind of people who appreciate Slim Aarons photography and vintage handbags. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Lomax also enjoyed photography and shot many concerts and events. Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 She has been involved with the photography industry in various capacities since her undergraduate training at the University of Kentucky, with work ranging from client photography to program development and management of the photo department at Evolve, a vacation rental company. Abby Ferguson, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024 But photography is also popular and there are lots of places to simply take in the views. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024

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

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of photography was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near photography

Cite this Entry

“Photography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photography. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

photography

noun
pho·​tog·​ra·​phy fə-ˈtäg-rə-fē How to pronounce photography (audio)
: the art or process of making pictures by means of a camera that directs the image of an object onto a surface (as film) that is sensitive to light

More from Merriam-Webster on photography

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