in camera

UK: /ɪn ˈkæmərə/

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in′ cam′era, [Law.]

1. Lawmaking See camera (def. 4).

• Neo-Latin: literally, in a chamber; see camera
• 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

in camera / ɪn ˈkæmərə/ adverb , adjective

1. in a private or secret session; not in public

Etymology: Latin: in the chamber

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cam•er•a /ˈkæmərə/   n. [countable] , pl. -as. 

1. Photography a usually hand-held device for taking pictures or films:
   a still camera; a movie camera.
2. Radio and Television (in a television transmitting apparatus) the device in which the picture to be televised is formed before it is changed into electric impulses.

Idioms

3. Idioms, Law in camera:
   • in the privacy of a judge's chambers:
     The lawyers and the judge discussed the problem in camera.
   • privately;
     not in public.
4. Idioms off camera, out of the range of a camera:
   made a gesture off camera.
5. Idioms on camera, being filmed or televised by a live camera.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cam•er•a  (kam′ər ə, kam′rə), n., pl. -er•as for 1,2, -er•ae (-ə rē) for 3, adj. 
n. 

1. Photography a boxlike device for holding a film or plate sensitive to light, having an aperture controlled by a shutter that, when opened, admits light enabling an object to be focused, usually by means of a lens, on the film or plate, thereby producing a photographic image.
2. Radio and Television (in a television transmitting apparatus) the device in which the picture to be televised is formed before it is changed into electric impulses.
3. Law a judge's private office.
4. Idioms, Law in camera:
   • [Law.] in the privacy of a judge's chambers.
   • privately.
5. Idioms off camera, out of the range of a television or motion-picture camera.
6. Idioms on camera, being filmed or televised by a live camera:
   Be sure to look alert when you are on camera.

adj. 

7. Printing Print. camera-ready.

• Greek kamára vault; see chamber
• Latin camera vaulted room, vault
• 1700–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

camera / ˈkæmərə ˈkæmrə/ noun

1. an optical device consisting of a lens system set in a light-proof construction inside which a light-sensitive film or plate can be positioned
   See also digital camera
2. the equipment used to convert the optical image of a scene into the corresponding electrical signals
3. See camera obscura
4. ( -erae / -əˌriː/) a judge's private room
5. in camera ⇒ relating to a hearing from which members of the public are excluded
6. in private

Etymology: 18th Century: from Latin: vault, from Greek kamara