graphic

¹

[ graf-ik ]

adjective

1. giving a clear and effective picture; vivid:

   a graphic account of an earthquake.

   Synonyms: detailed, telling, striking

2. pertaining to the use of diagrams, graphs, mathematical curves, or the like; diagrammatic.
3. of, relating to, or expressed by writing:

   graphic symbols.

4. written, inscribed, or drawn.
5. depicted in a realistic or vivid manner:

   graphic sex and violence.

6. containing graphic descriptions:

   a graphic movie.

7. Geology. (of a rock) having a texture formed by the intergrowth of certain minerals so as to resemble written characters.
8. Mathematics. pertaining to the determination of values, solution of problems, etc., by direct measurement on diagrams instead of by ordinary calculations.
9. of or relating to the graphic arts.

noun

1. a product of the graphic arts, as a drawing or print.
2. a computer-generated image.

-graphic

²

1. a combination of -graph and -ic, forming adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -graph:

   telegraphic.

graphic

/ ˈɡræfɪk /

adjective

1. vividly or clearly described

   a graphic account of the disaster

2. sexually explicit
3. of or relating to writing or other inscribed representations

   graphic symbols

4. maths using, relating to, or determined by a graph

   a graphic representation of the figures

5. of or relating to the graphic arts
6. geology having or denoting a texture formed by intergrowth of the crystals to resemble writing

   graphic granite

Derived Forms

• ˈgraphicalness, noun
• ˈgraphically, adverb

Other Words From

• graphi·cal·ly adverb
• graphi·cal·ness graphic·ness noun
• non·graphic adjective
• non·graphi·cal adjective
• non·graphi·cal·ly adverb
• non·graphi·cal·ness noun
• un·graphic adjective
• un·graphi·cal adjective
• un·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of graphic¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin graphicus “of painting or drawing,” from Greek graphikós “able to draw or paint,” equivalent to gráph(ein) “to draw, write” + -ikos -ic; cognate with carve

Word History and Origins

Origin of graphic¹

C17: from Latin graphicus, from Greek graphikos, from graphein to write; see carve

Synonym Study

See picturesque.

Example Sentences

Most of it is taken up by a graphic inviting the visitor to participate in the 2016 online presidential straw poll.

From The Daily Beast

Surely all this graphic talk of gastrointestinal distress is making you queasy.

From The Daily Beast

Detainees were described, in graphic detail, being rectally fed against their will.

From The Daily Beast

For anyone who cared to watch, the event and its denouement provided a graphic demonstration that the Iron Curtain was crumbling.

From The Daily Beast

His work also provides a graphic account of injured females who were assaulted by marauding “gangs” of Adélie males.

From The Daily Beast

It seems hardly possible to draw a more graphic picture of the blessings diffused by the balmy plant, than that just given.

From Project Gutenberg

They were all very happy and merry, for Stanley was recounting with graphic power some of the incidents of his recent voyage.

From Project Gutenberg

While reading, he generally interspersed a few pointed remarks or graphic explanations, and Eric learnt much in this simple way.

From Project Gutenberg

His graphic account of his interview will well illustrate the manner in which he treated the Republicans.

From Project Gutenberg

The account in Larousse's "Grand Dictionnaire" is so graphic that it makes one's flesh creep.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -graphic

What does -graphic mean?

The combining form -graphic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to something drawn or written,” often to denote a recording of something. It is often used in scientific and technical terms.

The combining form -graphic comes from a combination of two forms. The first is -graph, from Greek -graphos, meaning “drawn or written, one who draws or writes.” The second form is the suffix -ic, which denotes an adjective.

What are variants of -graphic?

While -graphic doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the forms -graphy, as in telegraphy, as well as -graph, as in pictograph. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on -graphy and -graph.

Examples of -graphic

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -graphic is micrographic, “of or relating to the description or delineation of microscopic objects.”

You may recognize the form micro-, meaning “small,” from Greek mīkrós. The form -graphic means “of or relating to something drawn or written.” Micrographic literally translates to “of or relating to a drawing [recording] of something small.”

What are some words that use the combining form -graphic?

• cardiographic
• hydrographic
• pictographic
• seismographic
• stenographic

What are some other forms that -graphic may be commonly confused with?

• -grade
• -gram
• -phage

Break it down!

The combining form seismo- means “earthquake.” With that in mind, what does seismographic mean?