Graphic

/ˈɡræfɪk/

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonVisual Arts & Design
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Relating to visual art or design, or using visual means.

/ˈɡræfɪk/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
Visual Arts & Design

Relating to visual art, especially drawing, engraving, or design.

The company hired a graphic artist to design their new website.

💡 Simply: Imagine drawing or designing pictures. Anything related to those images is 'graphic'! Like, a cool logo is a graphic.

👶 For kids: Something that has to do with pictures or drawings.

More Examples

2

The book included many graphic illustrations to explain complex concepts.

3

The new software has graphic capabilities to allow for better user experience.

How It's Used

Art & Design

"She's a graphic designer who specializes in creating logos."

Computer Science

"The new game features impressive graphic displays."

2

Describing something in a very clear and detailed way, often involving unpleasant or shocking content.

/ˈɡræfɪk/

adjectivenegativeBeginner
Description

Describing something vividly or explicitly detailed, often unpleasant or disturbing.

The witness provided a graphic account of the robbery.

💡 Simply: When a movie or story is super detailed about something intense (like a scary scene), it's 'graphic.' Like, it shows everything, even the parts you might not want to see!

👶 For kids: When something is so detailed that it’s almost like seeing a picture, especially if it's scary or gross.

More Examples

2

The movie contained several graphic scenes of violence.

3

The report offered graphic details on the damage caused by the earthquake.

How It's Used

News & Journalism

"The news report contained graphic descriptions of the disaster."

Literature

"The novel presented graphic details of the war."

Tip:When something is GRAPHIC, it's like a detailed image, even if it's upsetting.

Idioms & expressions

graphic novel

A book in comic-strip format, typically with a complex plot and literary themes.

"He enjoys reading graphic novels in his free time."

graphic content

Material that is detailed, often of a violent or sexual nature.

"Viewers should be warned about the graphic content in the film."

From Greek *graphikos* 'pertaining to writing', from *graphein* 'to write'.

Originally referred to the art of drawing and engraving, the term's meaning expanded to encompass detailed and often disturbing descriptions over time.

Memory tip

Think of GRAPHic as what you see in a GRAPH, a visual representation.

Word Origin

LanguageGreek
Original meaning

"to write, to draw"

graphic designgraphic novelgraphic detailgraphic contentgraphic artist

Common misspellings

graficgraphick

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written