Meaning & use
photogenic
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Looking good in photographs, whether a person, a place or an object.
Grammar: Used after be or before a noun: she is photogenic; a photogenic village.
Patterns
- be photogenic
- a photogenic place
The baby is extremely photogenic and smiles for every camera.
We chose the island for its photogenic beaches.
adjectivenot comparabletechnicalrare
Producing or giving off light, used of certain organisms or processes.
Grammar: Technical and rare.
The photogenic properties of the deep-sea creature were studied.
Researchers examined a photogenic reaction in the compound.
Word forms
| comparative | more photogenic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most photogenic |
Common combinations
- very photogenic
- The harbor is very photogenic at sunset.
- naturally photogenic
- She is naturally photogenic.
- photogenic spot
- The bridge is a photogenic spot.
- not photogenic
- I am just not photogenic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- picturesque
- Describes a scene that looks like a picture, mainly places.
- camera-friendly
- Informal; means looking good on camera.
Opposites
Word family
- photogenically adverb
- in a way that looks good in photos
- photography noun
- the art of taking photos
Commonly confused: photogenic or telegenic?
photogenic vs telegenic
Telegenic means looking good on television, not in still photos.
Practice
The old fishing village is very ___, so tourists take photos everywhere.
Choose one answer.
Photogenic means looking attractive in photos. Photographic means relating to photography and does not describe appeal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “photogenic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.