photobomb

[foh-toh-bom]

verb (used with object)

1. to ruin (a photograph) by appearing in the image without the photographer’s knowledge, often in some dramatic or comical way.

   My brother photobombed what would have been a nice photo of my grandma and me.

2. to do this to (the subject of a photograph or the photographer).

   I thought I had a great picture, but I got photobombed by a pigeon flying by.

noun

1. a photograph that is ruined in this way.

Other Word Forms

• photobombing noun
• photobomber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of photobomb¹

First recorded in 2005–10; photo + bomb ( def. )

Example Sentences

The speaker of the House, the man second in line to the presidency — Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana — had to photobomb the much-shared shot taken aboard the so-called Trump Force One airplane last weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

The Arizona farmer photobombed a photograph the Cop, Convict, Comedian and Rabbi took together to celebrate their night out with the faithful.

From Salon

They encountered an immense flurry of different salps that were doing their nightly migration to the surface -- and many photobombing sharks, squids and crustaceans, Sutherland noted.

From Science Daily

Two of our galaxy’s most famous stars were recently photobombed by what appears to be a celestial question mark.

From National Geographic

The King County Courthouse’s ungainly profile photobombed countless Seattle cityscape portraits for four decades.

From Seattle Times