image

The word “image” means a visual representation of something, such as a picture, photo, or drawing. In plain terms, a picture, likeness, or reputation — something that represents how a thing looks or is seen by others.

“Image” is pronounced IHM-ihj (/ˈɪm.ɪdʒ/ in IPA).

Here is “image” used in a sentence: “She hung a framed image of the mountains above her desk.”

Words with a similar meaning to “image” include picture and value.

Depending on how it is used, “image” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “image” comes from Latin. From Old French image, tracing back to Latin imago, meaning "a likeness or copy." Related to the word "imitate.".

“Image” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Image” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a visual representation of something, such as a picture, photo, or drawing.

The words overlap heavily, but 'image' is the broader, more technical term for any visual representation — including digital files, reflections, and mental pictures. 'Picture' usually suggests a physical or printed image such as a photo or painting. Every picture is an image, though not every image is a picture.

No. Beyond photos and drawings, 'image' can mean a mental picture you form in your mind, a reflection in a mirror or lens, or a public reputation — a company's image. The shared thread is representation: something that stands for or depicts another thing.

Images come in many forms — photographs, drawings, paintings, diagrams, and digital graphics. In computing, images are often split into two kinds: raster images made of pixels, such as photos, and vector images built from lines and shapes that stay sharp at any size.