hologram

American  

[hol-uh-gram, hoh-luh-] / ˈhɒl əˌgræm, ˈhoʊ lə- /

noun

Optics.

• holograms
  plural

1. a negative produced by exposing a high-resolution photographic plate, without camera or lens, near a subject illuminated by monochromatic, coherent radiation, as from a laser: when it is placed in a beam of coherent light a true three-dimensional image of the subject is formed.

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hologram British  

/ ˈhɒləˌɡræm /

noun

1. a photographic record produced by illuminating the object with coherent light (as from a laser) and, without using lenses, exposing a film to light reflected from this object and to a direct beam of coherent light. When interference patterns on the film are illuminated by the coherent light a three-dimensional image is produced

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hologram Scientific  

/ hŏl′ə-grăm′,hō′lə- /

1. A three-dimensional image of an object made by holography.

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Closer Look

To produce a simple hologram, a beam of coherent, monochromatic light, such as that produced by a laser, is split into two beams. One part, the object or illumination beam, is directed onto the object and reflected onto a high-resolution photographic plate. The other part, the reference beam, is beamed directly onto the photographic plate. The interference pattern of the two light beams is recorded on the plate. When the developed hologram is illuminated from behind (in the same direction as the original reference beam) by a beam of coherent light, it projects a three-dimensional image of the original object in space, shifting in perspective when viewed from different angles. Appropriately enough, the word hologram comes from the Greek words holos, “whole,” and gramma, “message.” If a hologram is cut into pieces, each piece projects the entire image, but as if viewed from a smaller subset of angles. The large amount of information contained in holograms makes them harder to forge than two-dimensional images. Many credit cards, CDs, sports memorabilia, and other items include holographic stickers as indicators of authenticity. Holography is used in many fields, including medicine, data storage, architecture, engineering, and the arts.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• holograms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hologram

First recorded in 1945–50; holo- + -gram ¹

Explanation

If you've ever looked through a View-Master, you've seen a hologram — an image or photograph that appears to be three-dimensional. Holograms sometimes appear on credit cards, passports, and driver's licenses as security against forgery, and they are also occasionally used in art. The process of creating a hologram is complicated and scientific, usually involving a special kind of laser. The word hologram was invented by Dennis Gabor, the scientist who developed holography in 1949, by combining the Greek holos, "whole," and gramme, "line."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hologram holograms

Several years ago, while speaking at a medical conference, she watched a doctor appear as a full-body hologram broadcast live across the United States.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026

We’ve either run out of steam or brains, or maybe both, because now it’s increasingly like, sure, why not feature a hologram of Tupac at a Salesforce conference.

From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2026

A giant atrium was planned inside the structure where hologram images of spaceships and floating boulders whiz by visitors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

The big moment of the festival was the Tupac Shakur hologram that appeared on stage with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg during their headlining performance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026

The hologram becomes General Sharpe, but the general isn’t her usual smug self.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

As they reach old age, the business of burial is poised for an influx of money and new ideas, including biodegradable coffins and holograms of the deceased to display as digital memorials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

And, to me, holograms are just like Zooms today.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025

Along with AI-generated holograms and sci-fi animation, the heart of the neon-lit venue features a giant cylindrical computer -- presented as the digital mainframe powering the restaurant's lights and smoke shows.

From Barron's ● Nov. 30, 2025

Clips showed fridges lined with blue boxes featuring holograms and "Molecule Plus" labels.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025

All the holograms of a real Illinois license, all the same colors, the same thick, laminated plastic, the same organ donor info.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan