variants
or less commonly graphical
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 see also graphic design
d
often graphical mathematics
: relating or according to graphics (see graphic entry 2 sense 3b)
a graphical/graphic representation of a cube
e
often graphical
: relating to or consisting of images or video displayed on the screen of a computer or other digital device
a graphical interface
Users can record a computer screen, import graphic elements, … and export … videos …—
boingboing.net
boingboing.net2
: 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
plural graphics
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 created by a computer for display on the screen of a digital device
The video game's graphics are impressive.
—sometimes used before another nounthe laptop's graphics card
c
: a message, image, etc. superimposed on a video
Tabloid topics, sexy footage, … graphics, hold the analysis: television news plays like The International Enquirer staged by MTV.—Richard Corliss
compare chyron
Richard Corliss3
a
graphics plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: the process whereby a computer displays graphics
b
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
variants
or -graphical
: written or transmitted in a (specified) way
stylographic
telegraphic
Synonyms
Examples of graphic in a Sentence
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
Ray Hanley, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
In a graphic clip that was shared on social media, the bloodied and bruised rapper can be seen hunched over on the ground following the attack.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Over the past decade, scientists and researchers discovered that the same Nvidia chip designs that could render polygons and computer graphics were ideal for the kind of parallel processing needed for AI.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graphic 
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Adjective
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
—Ray Hanley, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
In a graphic clip that was shared on social media, the bloodied and bruised rapper can be seen hunched over on the ground following the attack.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Be aware that even with graphics hardware acceleration, some of these effects took up to a half minute to complete on my test PC.
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Over the past decade, scientists and researchers discovered that the same Nvidia chip designs that could render polygons and computer graphics were ideal for the kind of parallel processing needed for AI.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graphic
Dictionary Entries Near graphic
Cite this Entry
“Graphic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graphic. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
graphic
1 of 2 adjective
graph·ic
ˈgraf-ik 
variants
also graphical
1
: of, relating to, or being arts such as painting, engraving, printing, or photography
2
: of, relating to, or represented by a graph
3
: clearly and impressively told or described
graphic
2 of 2 noun1
: a picture, map, or graph used for illustration
2
plural
: a display (as of pictures or graphs) generated by a computer on a screen, printer, or plotter
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