imagery

noun

im·​ag·​ery ˈi-mij-rē How to pronounce imagery (audio)
-mi-jə-
plural imageries
1
a
: pictures produced by an imaging system
imagery from the satellite
b
: the product of image makers : images
A host of computer animation tools … have made it easier to create, manipulate, and multiply imagery.—Dike Blair et al.
also : the art of making images
2
: figurative language
a poem with biblical imagery
3
: mental images
especially : the products of imagination

Examples of imagery in a Sentence

The book contains a great deal of sexual imagery. The movie was full of biblical imagery.
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.
The platform provides industry-leading 35-centimeter imagery resolution, enabling greater visual clarity for tactical operations and improving the ability to identify and analyze objects in complex environments. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026 Around West Glacier, the familiar snow-globe imagery gives way to long days, cold lakes, pine shade and the ritual pleasures of camp life. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The imagery particularly works for Haaland, 6ft 5in (196cm) and fond of a 6,000-calorie-a-day diet that includes cow hearts, liver and raw milk. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 10 July 2026 There’s often a lot of imagery about moving from place to place, moving through a landscape and things like that. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for imagery

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymagerie "images portrayed in sculpture, painting, etc.," borrowed from Anglo-French, from ymage, image image entry 1 + -erie -ery

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of imagery was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing imagery

Browse Nearby Words

imager
imagery
image slicer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imagery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imagery. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

imagery

noun
im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē How to pronounce imagery (audio)
plural imageries
1
: images that can be seen or that are imagined
2
: language that suggests how someone or something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes

Medical Definition

imagery

noun
im·​ag·​ery ˈim-ij-(ə-)rē How to pronounce imagery (audio)
plural imageries
: mental images
eidetic imagery
especially : the products of imagination
psychotic imagery

More from Merriam-Webster on imagery

Nglish: Translation of imagery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about imagery

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