photo opportunity

American

noun

a brief period set aside for the media to take photographs of a high government official or celebrity, usually immediately before or after a newsworthy event.

photo opportunity British

noun

an opportunity, either preplanned or accidental, for the press to photograph a politician, celebrity, or event

"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

Etymology

Origin of photo opportunity

First recorded in 1975–80

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.

The Mars flyby was far more than a photo opportunity.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2026

It was a similar story at another photo opportunity with world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

All they would need to do is decline a photo opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

Bovino called the suggestion that the crowd cleared for a photo opportunity “false news” and that the vehicle was preparing to accompany Border Patrol strike teams on patrol that day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 11, 2025

When China's president, Xi Jinping, visited Manchester in October 2015, there followed a bizarre photo opportunity and a bold statement.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025

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