illustrator
Americannoun
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illustrators
plural
-
an artist who makes illustrations.
an illustrator of children's books.
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a person or thing that illustrates.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing illustrator
Foundational Reading
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Reading: Literature - Introductory
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Reading: Informational - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
How does your work as an illustrator inform how you see these pieces?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Sara Ah Sing, a 30-year-old multidisciplinary artist in San Diego who considers herself a bunny, is one such illustrator.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
An illustrator revealed that she had felt like a “crumpled-up ball of paper” for years.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
They channel Warhol, who was an illustrator for a shoe manufacturer early in his career and would remain fascinated with footwear throughout his life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
He says Vincent’s work has progressed enough that he could get work as an illustrator in London.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
It reduces all artworks to mere illustrations, and all artists to mere illustrators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Lucas said he wanted to highlight the work of illustrators.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
It struck musicians and illustrators, YouTubers and Instagrammers, self-proclaimed anxious wrecks and the freest of spirits.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
The postcards were designed by authors and illustrators Nick Sharratt and Sir Quentin Blake.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Eventually, the student sorters were joined by six local glass menders, a professional glass conservator, and two illustrators.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
