Photogenic: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：photogenic (Photogenic)

Photogenic 🔊

/ˌfoʊtoʊˈdʒɛnɪk/

adj.

Looking good in photographs, often appearing better in photos than in real life.

photogenic 🔊

➕

/ˌfoʊtoʊˈdʒɛnɪk/

adj.

Used to describe a person or animal that looks attractive in photographs.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'phōs' (light) + 'genēs' (born of), meaning 'produced by light' or 'photogenic.'

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'photo' that looks 'gen-ic' (like 'genius') because the subject is naturally beautiful in pictures.

📖 Example

In the park, my friend looked at a picture of my dog and said, "He's so photogenic!" 🔊 In the park, my friend looked at a picture of my dog and said, "He's so photogenic!"

🔗 Collocations

photogenic smile – a smile that looks good in photos

naturally photogenic – attractive in photos without effort

photogenic subject – a person or thing that photographs well

🔄 Synonyms

camera-friendly (adj.) – Suitable for being photographed; looking good in photos.

telegenic (adj.) – Looking good on television or in broadcast.

🚫 Antonyms

unphotogenic (adj.) – Not looking good in photographs.

🌱 Derivatives

photogenically (adv.) – In a photogenic manner.

photogenicity (n.) – The quality of being photogenic.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'photogenic' first appeared in the 1830s with the advent of photography. Originally used to describe substances sensitive to light, it evolved by the 20th century to describe people who look good in photos.