# imagery

/ˈɪmədʒɹi/ (US) · /ˈɪmɪdʒɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/imagery
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. literary descriptions

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

vivid language in writing that helps you imagine a scene or feeling using your senses.

For teachers: figurative or descriptive language used in literature to create mental images and sensory experiences for the reader.

- The poet uses dark imagery to show how sad and lonely the character feels.
- The author employs nautical imagery throughout the novel to reinforce the theme of being adrift in a changing society.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general style of a work; countable when referring to specific instances.

### 2. visual representations

noun · CEFR B2

pictures, photographs, or other visual things used to show something.

For teachers: visual representations or images collectively, often produced by a specific technique or for a specific purpose.

- The website uses bright imagery of nature to attract tourists.
- Satellite imagery provided the researchers with clear evidence of how the coastline had eroded over the last decade.

Usage: Commonly used in technical contexts like 'satellite imagery' or 'digital imagery'.

### 3. mental pictures

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the pictures or ideas you create in your mind when thinking about something.

For teachers: the formation of mental representations of objects or scenes that are not currently present to the senses.

- Athletes often use mental imagery to practice their moves before a big game.
- Psychologists study how guided imagery can help patients manage chronic pain by refocusing their internal attention.

## Examples

- The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the winter forest.
- The director relied on dark, industrial imagery to establish the film's bleak and hopeless atmosphere.
- By weaving together maritime imagery and religious metaphors, the author creates a dense narrative layer that suggests the voyage is as much a spiritual trial as a physical one.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.