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

Baseman is an almost lifelong L.A. resident, aside from the decade he spent in New York working as an illustrator.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Children's authors were also celebrated, with Skandar series creator AF Steadman taking home author of the year, and Dog Man writer and illustrator Dav Pilkey winning best illustrator.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

From 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, illustrator Luke McGarry will be meeting fans, and Sunday from noon to 1 p.m.,

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

He bounced around jobs after graduation, and worked for a number of years as a freelance illustrator in London and New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The microphone and podium on the stage, where I heard a presentation by a children’s book illustrator a few weeks earlier, are destroyed.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• cartoonist