pictorial

UK: /pɪkˈtɔːriəl/

US: /pɪkˈtɔriəl/

US: (pik tôr′ē əl, -tōr′ē əl)

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

pic•to•ri•al /pɪkˈtɔriəl/   adj. 

1. of or relating to a picture;
   illustrated by or containing pictures:
   a pictorial biography.

pic•to•ri•al•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pic•to•ri•al  (pik tôr′ē əl, -tōr′ē əl), adj. 

1. pertaining to, expressed in, or of the nature of a picture.
2. illustrated by or containing pictures:
   a pictorial history.
3. Fine Art of or pertaining to the art of painting and drawing pictures, the pictures themselves, or their makers:
   the pictorial masterpieces of the Renaissance.
4. having or suggesting the visual appeal or imagery of a picture:
   a pictorial metaphor.

n. 

5. Journalism a periodical in which pictures constitute an important feature.
6. Journalism a magazine feature that is primarily photographic.

• Latin pictōri(us) of painting (pic-, variant stem of pingere to paint + -tōrius -tory¹) + -al¹
• 1640–50

pic•to′ri•al•ly, adv. 
pic•to′ri•al•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 4. picturesque, vivid, striking, telling.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pictorial / pɪkˈtɔːrɪəl/ adjective

1. relating to, consisting of, or expressed by pictures
2. (of books, newspapers, etc) containing pictures
3. (of language, style, etc) suggesting a picture; vivid; graphic

noun

1. a magazine, newspaper, etc, containing many pictures

Etymology: 17th Century: from Late Latin pictōrius, from Latin pictor painter, from pingere to paint

picˈtorially adverb