# viewfinder

/ˈvjuˌfaɪndɝ/ (US) · /vjˈuːfaɪndɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/viewfinder
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

the small window on a camera that you look through to see what your photo will include.

For teachers: a small optical window or electronic screen on a camera showing the exact area to be photographed, allowing framing and focus before exposure.

## Examples

- She looks through the viewfinder before she takes the photo.
- The photographer cleans the viewfinder and checks the light before shooting the wedding outside.
- Through the dusty viewfinder, the old film camera revealed a narrow street scene that the digital screen could never render with the same quiet depth.

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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.