snapshot
Other forms: snapshots
A snapshot is a quick photograph taken for fun. Be sure to take lots of snapshots while you're on vacation!
Using the word snapshot makes it clear you're not talking about professional photographs or artistic shots you've put some thought into. A snapshot just captures a brief moment in time. You can also use this word to mean "impression or summary." A person's obituary, even if deeply moving, can never be more than a snapshot of their varied, complex life. The original 17th0century meaning of snapshot was "quick shot with a gun at a fast-moving target."
Definitions of snapshot
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an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera
-
a brief look, impression, or summary of something
Pronunciation
US
/ˌsnæpˈʃɑt/
UK
/ˈsnæpʃɒt/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘snapshot'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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