-graphic

¹

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

   telegraphic.

graphic

²

[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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• graphically adverb
• graphicalness noun
• graphicness noun
• nongraphic adjective
• nongraphical adjective
• nongraphically adverb
• nongraphicalness noun
• ungraphic adjective
• ungraphical adjective
• ungraphically 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

Adobe is best known by consumers for its software programs—including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Analytics—used for graphic design, video editing, document management and more.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Klay Thompson didn’t hold back after former NBA champion Jason Williams used a graphic term in reference to the Dallas Mavericks star’s superstar girlfriend Megan Thee Stallion on a podcast.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I snag an armful of graphic T-shirts and stuff them into the luggage.

Read more on Literature

Azure is deploying hundreds of thousands of Nvidia graphic processing units.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence and gunshot injuries.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

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.