visual

[vizh-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to seeing or sight.

   a visual image.

2. used in seeing.

   the visual sense.

3. optical.

4. perceptible by the sense of sight; visible.

   a visual beauty.

5. perceptible by the mind; of the nature of a mental vision.

   a visual impression captured in a line of verse.

noun

1. Usually visuals.

   1. the picture elements, as distinguished from the sound elements, in films, television, etc.

   2. photographs, slides, films, charts, or other visual materials, especially as used for illustration or promotion.

2. a rough, preliminary sketch of an advertising layout, showing possible arrangements of material.

3. any item or element depending on the sense of sight.

visual

/ -zjʊ-, ˈvɪʒʊəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, done by, or used in seeing

   visual powers

   visual steering

2. another word for optical

3. capable of being seen; visible

4. of, occurring as, or induced by a mental image

noun

1. a sketch to show the proposed layout of an advertisement, as in a newspaper

2. (often plural) a photograph, film, or other display material

Other Word Forms

• visually adverb
• nonvisual adjective
• subvisual adjective
• supervisual adjective
• supervisually adverb
• unvisual adjective
• unvisually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of visual¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin vīsuālis, from vīsu(s) “sight” (noun use of past participle of vidēre “to see”) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of visual¹

C15: from Late Latin vīsuālis, from Latin vīsus sight, from vidēre to see

Example Sentences

He later interviewed nearly two dozen historians of African American art history and visual culture studies to pinpoint collective needs.

From Los Angeles Times

The wildfire is so dominant it's arguably the main character in the film - the footage was either real, created by the gas lines, or by visual effects augmentation, using shots of real fires.

From BBC

Mamdani’s campaign has earned praise for its visual style and its ability to cut viral videos.

From Salon

The bitter, misogynist audience is there for the provocative visual of the older Kirk looking down on and verbally “owning” supposedly “ruined” women.

From Salon

Then, he was able to digitally erase both the corpse and the rope, leaving behind only the visual context in which the horror took place.

From Los Angeles Times