wide-angle
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a lens having a relatively wide angle of view, generally 45° or more, and a focal length of less than 50 millimeters.
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employing, or made with, a wide-angle lens.
a wide-angle camera; a wide-angle shot.
Etymology
Origin of wide-angle
First recorded in 1875–80
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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.
Looking at my computer, I find myself lingering over a beautiful wide-angle photo of a mountain peak: giant slabs of sharp rock, brushed with snow and bathed in sunlight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
A telephoto lens offers higher resolution, while a wide-angle lens allows a larger field of view.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025
This compact action camera records stunning 4K video, with options for POV or wide-angle shots.
From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024
Think of an IndieCade happening as a showcase for what’s underground, what’s next and what’s important in interactive storytelling, a gathering that takes a wide-angle view to all things play.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2024
I wish I had a wide-angle lens on my phone as I try to frame the mosque with light glinting off the minarets, and take a few videos instead.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
