Meaning & use
photomaton
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletrademarkBritish
A self-service machine, usually in a public place, that takes and prints a set of small photographs of you.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a photomaton' or 'photomata/photomatons' for more than one, though the singular is by far the most common.
Patterns
- use a photomaton
- find a photomaton
- photos from a photomaton
I needed passport photos, so I used the photomaton at the station.
The photomaton in the shopping center was out of order again.
Her new ID card shows a slightly blurry photomaton picture.
Word forms
| plural | photomatons |
|---|
Common combinations
- use a photomaton
- We used a photomaton to get four pictures for the visa form.
- a photomaton booth
- There's a photomaton booth just inside the main entrance.
- photomaton photos
- The application asks for two photomaton photos.
- find a photomaton
- It took me ages to find a photomaton that still worked.
Synonyms and how they differ
- photo booth
- The ordinary, non-branded term used in most English-speaking countries; safer if you are not sure whether 'Photomaton' is understood.
- passport photo machine
- A descriptive phrase rather than a name; it makes the purpose clear when the brand name means nothing to your listener.
Word family
- Photomaton noun
- The original brand name for this kind of machine, still used as a common noun in some countries.
Commonly confused: photomaton or photomultiplier?
photomaton vs photomultiplier
A scientific device that detects faint light; it sounds similar but has nothing to do with taking pictures of people.
Practice
What is a 'photomaton'?
Choose one answer.
A photomaton is a self-service photo booth, typically used for passport or ID pictures. The other options describe different kinds of cameras or equipment.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “photomaton”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.