pictorial

[pik-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, expressed in, or of the nature of a picture.

2. illustrated by or containing pictures.

   a pictorial history.

3. of or relating to the art of painting and drawing pictures, the pictures themselves, or their makers.

   the pictorial masterpieces of the Renaissance.

4. having or suggesting the visual appeal or imagery of a picture.

   a pictorial metaphor.

   Synonyms: telling, striking, vivid, picturesque

noun

1. a periodical in which pictures constitute an important feature.

2. a magazine feature that is primarily photographic.

pictorial

/ pɪkˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. relating to, consisting of, or expressed by pictures

2. (of books, newspapers, etc) containing pictures

3. of or relating to painting or drawing

4. (of language, style, etc) suggesting a picture; vivid; graphic

noun

1. 1. a magazine, newspaper, etc, containing many pictures

   2. ( capital when part of a name )

      the Sunday Pictorial

Other Word Forms

• pictorially adverb
• pictorialness noun
• nonpictorial adjective
• nonpictorially adverb
• semipictorial adjective
• semipictorially adverb
• unpictorial adjective
• unpictorially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pictorial¹

1640–50; < Latin pictōri ( us ) of painting ( pic- , variant stem of pingere to paint + -tōrius -tory ¹ ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pictorial¹

C17: from Late Latin pictōrius, from Latin pictor painter, from pingere to paint

Example Sentences

This Teen Vogue pictorial offers a glimpse of the audience at Carpenter's concerts: teen girls and young women wearing over-the-top girl gear, all pink bows and lace lingerie, with tongues firmly planted in cheek.

Read more on Salon

In one of the earliest examples of his "pictorial" photography, Fading Away, Robinson combined five separate negatives to produce a scene showing a dying girl surrounded by her family.

Read more on BBC

Both artist and sitter participated in putting on a pictorial show.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of the more remarkable features of Velázquez’s stunning pictorial achievement is that he chose to paint Mariana’s portrait over one of many he had already executed of her husband.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Last year, the King hailed new portraits of the Windrush generation, including Mr Gardner, as pictorial records of a "very special" group of people.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• descriptive 
• illustrated 
• photographic 
• visual 
• vivid