photographic memory

American  

[foh-tuh-graf-ik mem-ree, mem-uh-ree] / ˈfoʊ təˌgræf ɪk ˈmɛm ri, ˈmɛm ə ri /

noun

photographic memories plural

1. the exceptional ability to recall information with very high accuracy or vivid detail, especially visual or spatial details.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• photographic-memory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• photographic memories
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

photographic memory

With the aural equivalent of a photographic memory, she advised financial companies on regulatory and public-policy issues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026

And my mom had a photographic memory, so she would be like, “This film is from 1940,” blah blah blah.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2025

But Cameron took it in his stride, making photographic memory books and scrapbooks of their relationship and writing notes and letters to his fiancee.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025

The boy with a photographic memory and a penchant for detailed drawing became fascinated with identifying trees during a winter scouting excursion in the 1960s.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2023

“By the way,” he added, “that SUV was tan. That’s some photographic memory you have.”

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken