Definitions
01related to sight
B1 · Intermediate General-service
adj. relating to seeing or the sense of sight.
adj. relating to or affecting the sense of vision.
“The artist has a very strong visual memory and can paint scenes from years ago.”
“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.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
Synonyms
02an image or graphic
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
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.
“The presentation was good, but it needed more visuals to keep the audience interested.”
“The marketing team spent weeks refining the visuals for the campaign, ensuring that every graphic aligned with the brand's new identity.”
Usage
Often used in the plural when referring to a presentation.
Teaching tip
In business and academic contexts, 'visuals' refers specifically to the slides or charts that accompany a speech.
Synonyms
03a preliminary sketch
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
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.
“The designer showed us a rough visual of the new magazine cover.”
“Before moving to the digital rendering phase, the art director reviewed several hand-drawn visuals to determine the best composition for the billboard.”
Teaching tip
This is a specific industry term used in advertising and graphic design agencies.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “visual” in context.
Adjective
01. visual acuity
“The pilot underwent a series of tests to measure his visual acuity and reaction time.”
adj + noun
02. visual aid
“The teacher used a map as a visual aid to help the students understand the geography of the region.”
adj + noun
03. visual angle
“The size of the object on the retina depends on the visual angle it subtends.”
adj + noun
04. visual attention
“The bright colors of the advertisement were designed to capture the viewer's visual attention.”
adj + noun
05. visual cue
“Actors often rely on a visual cue from the director to know when to start their scene.”
adj + noun
06. visual display
“The new dashboard features a high-resolution visual display for all the car's functions.”
adj + noun
07. visual field
“The doctor checked if the patient had any blind spots in their visual field.”
adj + noun
08. visual image
“The poet uses descriptive language to create a vivid visual image in the reader's mind.”
adj + noun
09. visual impairment
“The building was designed to be accessible for people with a visual impairment.”
adj + noun
10. visual information
“The brain must quickly process visual information to help us navigate through a crowd.”
adj + noun
11. visual inspection
“A quick visual inspection of the engine revealed a loose wire.”
adj + noun
12. visual pattern
“The software is designed to recognize a specific visual pattern in the data.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The colors in this image are not simply for visual effect.” “Slayyyter had built a visual brand strong enough that the audience could wear it back to her.” Etymology
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.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/visual
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0