visual
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.relating to seeing or the sense of sight.
adj.relating to or affecting the sense of vision.
Simple“The artist has a very strong visual memory and can paint scenes from years ago.”
In context“The film's visual style is heavily influenced by mid-century noir, using sharp shadows and high-contrast lighting to create a sense of dread.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a picture, diagram, or piece of film used to show or explain something.
n.a graphic, image, or video clip used to illustrate a point or enhance a presentation.
Simple“The presentation was good, but it needed more visuals to keep the audience interested.”
In context“The marketing team spent weeks refining the visuals for the campaign, ensuring that every graphic aligned with the brand's new identity.”
UsageOften used in the plural when referring to a presentation.
Teacher's tipIn business and academic contexts, 'visuals' refers specifically to the slides or charts that accompany a speech.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a rough drawing or plan made before the final version of an advertisement or design.
n.a preliminary sketch or layout of an advertisement or design used for planning purposes.
Simple“The designer showed us a rough visual of the new magazine cover.”
In context“Before moving to the digital rendering phase, the art director reviewed several hand-drawn visuals to determine the best composition for the billboard.”
Teacher's tipThis is a specific industry term used in advertising and graphic design agencies.
Usage visual art · visual sensitivities · visual acuity
“Slayyyter had built a visual brand strong enough that the audience could wear it back to her.”
“The colors in this image are not simply for visual effect.”
From Middle English vysual, from Old French, from Late Latin visualis (“of sight”), from Latin visus (“sight”), from videre (“to see”), past participle visus; see visage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.