pictorial

1 of 2

adjective

pic·​to·​ri·​al pik-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

1

: of or relating to a painter, a painting, or the painting or drawing of pictures

pictorial perspective

2

a

: of, relating to, or consisting of pictures

pictorial records

b

: illustrated by pictures

pictorial weekly

c

: consisting of or displaying the characteristics of pictographs

d

: suggesting or conveying visual images

pictorial poetry

pictorially

pik-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

pictorialness noun

pictorial

2 of 2

noun

: a periodical having much pictorial matter

Synonyms

Adjective

• graphic
• graphical
• imaginal
• visual

Examples of pictorial in a Sentence

Adjective

a pictorial record of the trip

that photojournalist is planning to do a primarily pictorial report on the famine in Africa

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

At the Met, his depictions of the life of Saint Nicholas bathe us in expressiveness, insight, and pictorial complexity. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024

Scenic Christmas Plates Find artful (and highly collectible) pictorial holiday plates to star in your dinner theater. —Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024

Noun

By contrast, animation foregrounds the pictorial, which is its own aesthetic doctrine. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Irina Shayk is the rare model who started in her 20s and transitioned from swimsuit and lingerie modeling to high-fashion pictorials to, nowadays, street style. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin pictorius, from Latin pictor painter — more at picturesque

First Known Use

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pictorial

adjective

pic·​to·​ri·​al

pik-ˈtōr-ē-əl,

-ˈtȯr-

1

: of or relating to painting or drawing

pictorial art

2

: consisting of or illustrated by pictures

pictorial magazines

3

: suggesting or communicating vivid mental images

pictorial poetry

pictorially

-ē-ə-lē

adverb