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Synonyms

cartography

American  
[kahr-tog-ruh-fee] / kɑrˈtɒg rə fi /

noun

  1. the production of maps, including construction of projections, design, compilation, drafting, and reproduction.

cartography British  
/ kɑːˈtɒɡrəfɪ, ˌkɑːtəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

  1. the art, technique, or practice of compiling or drawing maps or charts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cartography Scientific  
/ kär-tŏg′rə-fē /

  1. The art or technique of making maps or charts.

Other Word Forms

  • cartograph noun
  • cartographer noun
  • cartographic adjective
  • cartographical adjective
  • cartographically adverb

Etymology

Origin of cartography

1855–60; < Latin c ( h ) art ( a ) carte + -o- + -graphy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Drew An-Pham is a graphics reporter at The Wall Street Journal, specializing in cartography and data visualization.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

It requires a passion for cities, urban history and, perhaps, cartography; an affinity for architecture and urban design; a love of community; and a knack for numbers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2024

The Seattle-based cartography company turns 50 this year, providing proof as clear as the compass rose that the hard-copy map is not going the way of the phone book.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Redrawing the map would require much more than fresh cartography.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2023

But these merely serve to conceal the fact that cartography transforms place into space.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.