illustrator

American  

[il-uh-strey-ter, ih-luhs-trey-ter] / ˈɪl əˌstreɪ tər, ɪˈlʌs treɪ tər /

noun

1. an artist who makes illustrations.

   an illustrator of children's books.

2. a person or thing that illustrates.

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Etymology

Origin of illustrator

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin, from Latin illustrā(re) “to illuminate, make clear, give glory to” ( see illustrate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

An illustrator is an artist who draws the pictures in a book. Some children's book authors are also illustrators, while others work with an illustrator. Picture books have to be well-written and well-illustrated: it's up to an illustrator to interpret the story through pictures (or illustrations). Illustrators sometimes also draw or paint pictures for comic books, advertisements, magazines, greeting cards, and graphic novels. In the 16th century, an illustrator was "one who enlightens," from a now-obsolete meaning of illustrate, "light up." The Latin root is illustrare, "light up," and also "adorn."

Example Sentences

He has personally brokered Pokémon sales worth over £2m, including an £84,000 Pokémon Trainer, a £442,800 Charizard and an £832,000 Pikachu Illustrator.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Adobe distributes apps like Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Premiere that customers can sign up to individually or through a bundle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

According to Goldin, the auction house that organized the trading card auction, Paul’s is the only Pikachu Illustrator card to achieve that “virtually perfect” PSA grading.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Adobe owns software programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Firefly, with customers spanning from large enterprises to individual consumers.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

Illustrator:     Peter Hurd. © on illus. & revisions;     5Sep30; A28178.

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1958 January - June by Library of Congress. Copyright Office

Related Words

• cartoonist