Word

imagery

noun C1

/ˈɪmɪd͡ʒɹi/

Meanings

noun

descriptive language in literature or speech that creates strong mental pictures and sensory impressions

noun

a set of visual images used to represent an idea, mood, or message, especially in art or media

Definition

Imagery is the use of vivid, descriptive language or symbols that create mental pictures and appeal to the senses.

Imagery refers to words, phrases, or details that help you picture something clearly in your mind. Writers and speakers use it to evoke sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, or strong impressions. It can be literal and sensory, or symbolic and suggestive, helping to shape mood and meaning.

Examples

The novel’s imagery makes the coastline feel immediate, from the salt spray to the glare on the rocks.
In her speech, she relied on imagery rather than statistics to convey the human cost of the disaster.
The director uses imagery of empty streets and flickering lights to build tension before the climax.
I underlined the imagery in the poem because it turns an ordinary kitchen into something almost luminous.

Common mistake

Learners often treat "imagery" as countable and say "an imagery" or "imagerys," but it is usually an uncountable noun.