telephoto

1 of 3

adjective

tele·​pho·​to ˌte-lə-ˈfō-(ˌ)tō 

: 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

Noun

The telephoto here is a floating lens, meaning the minimum focus distance can shift to become a sort of macro sensor. —Ben Sin, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

This viewing window launches with the big picture as seen through the wide-angle lens taking up much of the screen, and a smaller box with the telephoto view to the top left. —New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025

Julian Harrison from Premier Tours has an unexpected recommendation beyond that telephoto DSLR. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025

The cylindrical top section is home to a 3.4-mm wide-angle lens with a focal length of 6.7 mm (45 mm equiv) and a 35-mm telephoto with a focal length of 150 mm (737 mm equiv), the latter made with low-dispersion glass. —New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing telephoto

• telephoto lens

Rhymes for telephoto

• hashimoto
• doto
• koto
• moto
• roto
• toto

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