cartography

noun

car·​tog·​ra·​phy kär-ˈtä-grə-fē How to pronounce cartography (audio)
: the science or art of making maps
cartographic adjective
or less commonly cartographical
cartographically adverb

Examples of cartography in a Sentence

She studied cartography in college.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But those massive datasets didn’t yield the kind of brain cartography that Tasic sought. Amber Dance, Quanta Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026 The development of European cartography was driven by the Age of Exploration from the 15th to 17th centuries and entrepreneurial activities associated with reproducing and selling maps. Melinda Laituri, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026 In that role, Merchant is focusing on cognitive cartography, a method for structuring complex information into semantic maps that reveal how ideas and concepts relate to one another. Joanna Goodrich, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025 But, if the experience of the Oslo Accords—where Areas A, B, and C in the West Bank hardened from interim arrangements into a permanent cartography of control—is any guide, provisional lines drawn in the name of security almost never remain provisional. Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cartography

Word History

Etymology

French cartographie, from carte card, map + -graphie -graphy — more at card entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cartography was circa 1847

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cartography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartography. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

cartography

noun
car·​tog·​ra·​phy kär-ˈtäg-rə-fē How to pronounce cartography (audio)
: the making of maps
cartographic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cartography

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster