snapshot

[ snap-shot ]

noun

1. an informal photograph, especially one taken quickly by a handheld camera.
2. Hunting. a quick shot taken without deliberate aim.
3. Informal. a brief appraisal, summary, or profile.

verb (used with or without object)

, snap·shot or snap·shot·ted, snap·shot·ting.

1. to photograph informally and quickly.

snapshot

/ ˈsnæpˌʃɒt /

noun

1. an informal photograph taken with a simple camera Often shortened tosnap

Word History and Origins

Origin of snapshot¹

1800–10 snapshot fordef 2; 1860–65 snapshot fordef 1; snap (in the sense “done suddenly or casually”) + shot ¹none

Example Sentences

The result provides a snapshot of campus as it was when the world went on pause in March.

From MIT Technology Review

Our national snapshot is not the same thing as our prediction of the Election Day outcome.

From FiveThirtyEight

Instead, our prediction blends the polling-driven snapshot with a “fundamentals forecast” based on economic conditions and whether an incumbent is seeking reelection.

From FiveThirtyEight

So here’s a snapshot of all 38 statewide elections since the pandemic started and what macro trends we’ve been able to observe so far.

From FiveThirtyEight

As much as possible, the team looked at the first round of transmission, in hopes of getting an accurate snapshot of the risks different types of settings pose.

From Science News

We surveyed the strange world of celebrity gaming cameos to give you a snapshot of the most successful and the most inexplicable.

From The Daily Beast

It is an indelible snapshot burned into our brains of mortality and sports at their highest level.

From The Daily Beast

At any given medical evaluation you get no more than a snapshot.

From The Daily Beast

All in all, an unedifying and unhealthy snapshot of conservatism today.

From The Daily Beast

The show represents a very specific snapshot of a very specific cultural subset existing at this very second in time.

From The Daily Beast

We stayed two days at the island, and had, in addition, a very picturesque snapshot at the native life.

From Project Gutenberg

"You have not liked him since you found that he took that snapshot of me," she said whimsically.

From Project Gutenberg

His brain registered these vague figures with the instantaneity of a snapshot camera at full noon.

From Project Gutenberg

He unbuttoned his coat, and drew out his pocket-book, and from it a little snapshot photograph, which he handed to Nancy.

From Project Gutenberg

Against one of the columns at the entrance I took a snapshot of my dear wife and our friend Miss Himmel.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• photo