telephoto

1 of 3

adjective

tele·​pho·​to ˌte-lə-ˈfō-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce telephoto (audio)
: being a camera lens system designed to give a large image of a distant object
also : relating to or being photography in which a telephoto lens is used

telephoto

2 of 3

noun

plural telephotos
1
: a telephoto lens
2
: a photograph taken with a camera having a telephoto lens

Telephoto

3 of 3

trademark

used for an apparatus for transmitting photographs electrically or for a photograph so transmitted

Examples of telephoto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The rest of the package includes a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus, a 10MP cover screen camera, and a 10MP inner screen camera with a super-wide 100-degree field of view for those group selfies. PC Magazine, 10 July 2025 The main camera now boasts 200 megapixels, like the S25 Ultra, joined by a 10-megapixel telephoto that offers 3x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 9 July 2025 It’s also decked out with premium new cameras, featuring a 200-megapixel main lens, as well as a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide and two 10-megapixel front cameras on both the cover screen and on the main display. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 9 July 2025 Our guide will cover a variety of lenses that offer telephoto capability, superfast apertures and wide angles while considering their value and technical prowess. Harry Bennett, Space.com, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for telephoto

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of telephoto was in 1893

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Cite this Entry

“Telephoto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephoto. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

telephoto

adjective
tele·​pho·​to
ˌtel-ə-ˈfōt-ō
: being a camera lens designed to give a large image of a distant object

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