graphic
gb/ɡɹˈæfɪk/ us/ɡɹˈæfɪk/
B1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Showing vivid visual detail
Showing clear and bright pictures or images.
Usage pattern:
[something] is graphic
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'graphic' with 'graphical'; 'graphic' is more common in everyday contexts and can describe both images and vivid visual detail, while 'graphical' is more formal/technical.
Synonyms
visual (Focuses broadly on sight rather than the level of detail.)
Antonyms
textual (Refers to words rather than images.)
Collocations
graphic design
|graphic image
|graphic representation
|graphic interface
|graphic novel
Themes
art
|media
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The report included a graphic representation of the data.
- She works as a graphic designer for a tech company.
- The museum displayed a graphic map of the ancient city.
- The game’s graphic interface is easy to navigate.
- He created a graphic illustration for the magazine.
Learner examples
- This book has many graphic pictures.
- I like the graphic map on the wall.
- The website has a graphic logo.
- We saw a graphic chart in class.
- She made a graphic image for her project.
adjective
B2
property
2
Vivid in an explicit or shocking way
Giving strong and clear details, often about something bad or violent.
Usage pattern:
[something] is graphic
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'graphic' here only means 'with pictures', but in this sense it refers to vivid, often disturbing verbal or visual detail.
Synonyms
explicit (Emphasizes openness and lack of censorship rather than vividness.)
Antonyms
vague (Lacking specific or detailed description.)
Collocations
graphic description
|graphic detail
|graphic account
Themes
media
|communication
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The witness gave a graphic description of the accident.
- The documentary contained some graphic scenes of war.
- His novel includes graphic accounts of life in prison.
- The report was too graphic for younger viewers.
- She warned me that the story was quite graphic.
Learner examples
- The movie has some graphic scenes of fighting.
- He told a graphic story about the fire.
- The news showed a graphic video of the storm.
- The book has a graphic account of the war.
- That was a graphic description of the crime.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
A visual image or design element
A picture or design used in books, websites, or other media.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'graphic' (singular) with 'graphics' (plural), which often refers to the field or collective images in computing and design.
Synonyms
illustration (Usually refers to hand-drawn images rather than computer-generated ones.)
Antonyms
text (Written words instead of images.)
Collocations
computer graphics
|3D graphics
|graphics card
Themes
art
|media
|technology
|communication
Examples
- The website’s graphics are colorful and engaging.
- He specializes in creating 3D graphics for video games.
- The presentation will include several graphics to explain the results.
- The new software improves the quality of digital graphics.
- She downloaded some free graphics for her blog.
Learner examples
- The game has very good graphics.
- I like the graphics on this website.
- We use graphics in our school project.
- The graphics make the story easy to understand.
- He studies computer graphics at university.
Grammar
Dictionary form
graphic
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈæfɪk/
US/ɡɹˈæfɪk/
Syllables & stress
graph - ic (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (graph)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: graphic
Noun
- Base: graphic
- Plural: graphics
Word family
Expressions
graphic content
1/ɡɹˈæfɪk kˈɑntɛnt/
fixed phrase
Visual material with disturbing detail
Pictures or videos that show very clear and possibly upsetting things.
Examples
- The video contains graphic content and may not be suitable for all viewers.
- News channels warned about the graphic content in the report.
graphic design
1/ɡɹˈæfɪk dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Art of creating visual content
The work of making pictures and designs to share information or ideas.
Examples
- She studied graphic design at art school.
- Graphic design is essential for effective advertising.
graphic novel
1/ɡɹˈæfɪk nˈɑvəl/
fixed phrase
Book-length comic story with art
A long story told in pictures like a comic book, often for adults or older readers.
Examples
- She borrowed a graphic novel from the library.
- He’s reading a graphic novel about World War II.
- Graphic novels are popular among both teens and adults.
- Many graphic novels are now adapted into films.