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
"Our approach is like taking a wide-angle camera inside the ballroom. Now we can see how the dancers are pairing up and paying attention to one another, so they don't bump into each other."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 27, 2026
An easy-to-use app lets them schedule meals multiple times a day and check in on their furbaby with the click of a button, thanks to a built-in 1080p camera with a 145° wide-angle lens.
From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2025
There’s a wide-angle shot of a nightclub where Condon gives her and a dozen background performers a full, uncut minute to twirl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025
The security camera swung away again and he darted forward, keeping well clear of the wide-angle lens.
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
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.
