photorealistic
|pho-to-re-a-list-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌfoʊtəˌriːəˈlɪstɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌfəʊtəˌriːəˈlɪstɪk/
like a photograph
Etymology
'photorealistic' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of the prefix 'photo-' (from Greek 'phōtós') meaning 'light' and 'realistic' (from 'real' + suffix '-istic').
'photo-' entered English via New Latin and the coinage 'photography' in the early 19th century (from Greek 'phōtós'), while 'realistic' comes from French 'réaliste' (19th century) ultimately from Latin 'realis'; these elements were combined in Modern English to form 'photorealistic'.
Initially the parts referred separately to 'light' and 'pertaining to the real'; over time the compound came to mean 'resembling a photograph in appearance' or 'rendered with photographic realism'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
so realistic in appearance that it resembles a photograph; reproducing photographic detail, lighting, and texture.
The film used photorealistic CGI to make the creatures look indistinguishable from real animals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/03 02:53