graphic
1 of 3adjective
graph·ic ˈgra-fik 
variants or less commonly graphical
ˈgra-fi-kəl
1
a
: of or relating to the pictorial arts
also : pictorial
b
: of, relating to, or involving such reproductive methods as those of engraving, etching, lithography, photography, serigraphy, and woodcut
c
: of or relating to the art of printing
d
: relating or according to graphics
2
: formed by writing, drawing, or engraving
graphic inscriptions
3
usually graphic
a
: vividly or plainly shown or described
a graphic sex scene
b
: using offensive or obscene words : including swear words
… used graphic language on camera and then abruptly ended the impromptu press conference. The vulgarity made headlines.
Michael Martinez
Michael Martinez c
: marked by clear lifelike or vividly realistic description
… its most graphic and beautiful stanzas … John Livingston Lowes
John Livingston Lowes4
usually graphical : of, relating to, or represented by a graph
5
: of or relating to the written or printed word or the symbols or devices used in writing or printing to represent sound or convey meaning
the graphic symbols of the ancient Egyptians
graphically
ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē
adverb graphicness
ˈgra-fik-nəs
noun graphic
2 of 3noun
1
a
: a product of graphic art
b
graphics plural : the graphic media
2
a
: a graphic representation (such as a picture, map, or graph) used especially for illustration
His presentation included a number of informational graphics.
b
: a pictorial image displayed on a computer screen
the program's graphics are impressive
c
graphics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the art or science of drawing a representation of an object on a two-dimensional surface according to mathematical rules of projection
3
graphics plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the process whereby a computer displays graphics
4
: a printed message superimposed on a television picture
-graphic
3 of 3adjective combining form
variants or -graphical
: written or transmitted in a (specified) way
stylographic
telegraphic
Synonyms
Adjective
- delineated
- pictorial
- picturesque
- visual
- vivid
Noun
- diagram
- figure
- illustration
- plate
- visual
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective the report offered many graphic details about the devastating earthquake that rocked the area got a degree in graphic design Noun She illustrated her talk with a graphic showing state population growth. the use of graphics in the text of the dictionary helps to break up the visual monotony of the page
Recent Examples on the Web Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 His artwork and illustrations mix his own Mexican heritage with the influences of Alphonse Mucha’s Art Nouveau, ‘60s psychedelic poster art, Austrian art deco, and graphic designer Milton Glaser. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The graffiti etched onto the walls of Skepta's painting were additions made by artist Slawn, music producer and graffiti artist Goldie and graphic designer Chito. Shama Nasinde, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Before opening the business with her husband in Bowling Green, Johnston was a part-time graphic designer. Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 23 Aug. 2022 His fee begins at $25,000 and clients also cover the costs of printing, a graphic designer, and any additional fees. Adrienne Gaffney, Town & Country, 19 Aug. 2022 Mike Winkelmann is a graphic designer from Charleston, S.C., who hit the jackpot in the NFT market with his digital creations, marketed under his professional name, Beeple. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 Aug. 2022 Their home was filled with music—not metal, which Lisa, a graphic designer, hates, but more soothing music by Sade and Sting. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2022 Kevin Windsor, a graphic designer in London, watched the match with his 3-year-old daughter, who was wearing a princess gown. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Elder Kardashian sister Kourtney also shared the graphic, which has now amassed 1.9 million likes in only four days. Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 27 July 2022 The Tencent version was far less explosive: instead, viewers got an on-screen graphic saying that the police foiled the plot, arrested all the criminals and sent the protagonist to an asylum. Lyric Li, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 An accompanying graphic on state broadcaster CCTV showed those occurred in the north, east, and south. Johnson Lai And Huizhong Wu, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 An accompanying graphic on state broadcaster CCTV showed those occurred in the north, east, and south. Johnson Lai And Huizhong Wu, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2022 The other interior detail that's specific to Edition 1988 models is a graphic that lets everyone know the car is one of 394. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 31 May 2022 But the image of an unborn dolphin is a computer graphic. Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 15 May 2022 Speaking of money in the race, the Los Angeles Times has published an interactive graphic that shows from where in the city each candidate has received money. Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 See More
Adjective
The entrepreneur will be teaming up with executive producer Antoinetta Hairston-Stallings, operation executive Kisha Cavette-Williams, actor and producer Novi Brown, and graphic designer Courtney Coprich. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 His artwork and illustrations mix his own Mexican heritage with the influences of Alphonse Mucha’s Art Nouveau, ‘60s psychedelic poster art, Austrian art deco, and graphic designer Milton Glaser. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 The graffiti etched onto the walls of Skepta's painting were additions made by artist Slawn, music producer and graffiti artist Goldie and graphic designer Chito. Shama Nasinde, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Before opening the business with her husband in Bowling Green, Johnston was a part-time graphic designer. Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 23 Aug. 2022 His fee begins at $25,000 and clients also cover the costs of printing, a graphic designer, and any additional fees. Adrienne Gaffney, Town & Country, 19 Aug. 2022 Mike Winkelmann is a graphic designer from Charleston, S.C., who hit the jackpot in the NFT market with his digital creations, marketed under his professional name, Beeple. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 Aug. 2022 Their home was filled with music—not metal, which Lisa, a graphic designer, hates, but more soothing music by Sade and Sting. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2022 Kevin Windsor, a graphic designer in London, watched the match with his 3-year-old daughter, who was wearing a princess gown. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Noun
The graphic, which ran with a Sept. 2 Page One article about investors’ outlook, misspelled the name as ME Group. WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Elder Kardashian sister Kourtney also shared the graphic, which has now amassed 1.9 million likes in only four days. Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 27 July 2022 The Tencent version was far less explosive: instead, viewers got an on-screen graphic saying that the police foiled the plot, arrested all the criminals and sent the protagonist to an asylum. Lyric Li, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 An accompanying graphic on state broadcaster CCTV showed those occurred in the north, east, and south. Johnson Lai And Huizhong Wu, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 An accompanying graphic on state broadcaster CCTV showed those occurred in the north, east, and south. Johnson Lai And Huizhong Wu, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2022 The other interior detail that's specific to Edition 1988 models is a graphic that lets everyone know the car is one of 394. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 31 May 2022 But the image of an unborn dolphin is a computer graphic. Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 15 May 2022 Speaking of money in the race, the Los Angeles Times has published an interactive graphic that shows from where in the city each candidate has received money. Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Latin graphicus, from Greek graphikos, from graphein
Adjective combining form
Late Latin -graphicus, from Greek -graphikos, from graphikos
First Known Use
Adjective
1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1944, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing graphic
Kids Definition
graphic 1 of 2
adjective
graph·ic ˈgra-fik
1
: being written, drawn, printed, or engraved A map is a graphic representation of an area's geography.
2
: described in very clear detail
She gave a graphic account of an accident.
3
: of or relating to the pictorial arts or to printing
graphic
2 of 2noun
1
: a picture, map, or graph used for illustration
2
graphics plural : a pictorial image or series of images displayed on a computer screen
graphic 1 of 2
noun
as in illustration
something that visually explains or decorates a text the use of graphics in the text of the dictionary helps to break up the visual monotony of the page Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- illustration
- diagram
- visual
- image
- drawing
- picture
- artwork
- caption
- depiction
- art
- plate
- figure
- portrait
- representation
- illumination
- portrayal
- pictogram
- inset
- explanation
- key
- pictograph
- legend
- exposition
- explication
- clarification
- elucidation
- pictorialization
graphic
2 of 2adjective
variants also graphical
1
as in visual
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description the report offered many graphic details about the devastating earthquake that rocked the area Synonyms & Similar Words
- visual
- vivid
- pictorial
- specific
- descriptive
- concrete
- picturesque
- photographic
- explicit
- delineated
- expressive
- fresh
- depicted
- realistic
- faithful
- sharp
- natural
- lifelike
- incisive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sketchy
- obscure
- vague
- unclear
- dark
- nebulous
- indeterminate
- fuzzy
- faint
- blurry
- shadowy
- ambiguous
- indistinct
- cryptic
- indistinguishable
- dark
- indefinite
- hazy
- muddy
- foggy
- mysterious
- murky
- dim
- enigmatic
- inscrutable
- equivocal
- bleary
- shadowlike
- enigmatical
2
as in photographic
consisting of or relating to pictures got a degree in graphic design Synonyms & Similar Words
- visual
- photographic
- video
- pictorial
- illustrative
- illustrational
- imaginal
- painted
- drawn
- pictographic
- represented
- iconographic
- hieroglyphic
- hieroglyphical
- ideographic
- iconographical
- ideogrammatic
- ideogrammic
- ideogramic
Synonym Chooser
The words picturesque and vivid are common synonyms of graphic. While all three words mean "giving a clear visual impression in words," graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.
a graphic account of combat
Although the words picturesque and graphic have much in common, picturesque suggests the presentation of a striking or effective picture composed of features notable for their distinctness and charm.
a picturesque account of his travels
In some situations, the words vivid and graphic are roughly equivalent. However, vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.
a vivid re-creation of an exciting event
- Generation Z
- generational
- generationally
- generationism
- generations
- generative
- generative cell
- generative grammar
- generative nucleus
- generative semantics
- generatively
- generativenesses
- generator
- generators
- generatrices
- generatrix
- generic
- generic judgment
- generic name
- generic wine
- generical
- generically
- genericness
- genericnesses
- generics