snapshot

[snap-shot]

noun

1. an informal photograph, especially one taken quickly by a handheld camera.

2. Hunting.,  a quick shot taken without deliberate aim.

3. Informal.,  a brief appraisal, summary, or profile.

verb (used with or without object)

snapshot, snapshotted, snapshotting. 

1. to photograph informally and quickly.

snapshot

/ ˈsnæpˌʃɒt /

noun

1. Often shortened to: snap. an informal photograph taken with a simple camera

Word History and Origins

Origin of snapshot¹

1800–10 snapshot for def. 2; 1860–65 snapshot for def. 1; snap (in the sense “done suddenly or casually”) + shot ¹

Example Sentences

Swifties are also digging through the archives, resurrecting old snapshots of loaves past.

From Salon

The campaign website for Rep. Bryan Steil, who has served in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District since 2018, underwent an overhaul sometime between May 15 and June 27, snapshots of the website show.

From Salon

Stealing her father’s favorite garden gnome, she arranges for her dad to receive a series of Polaroid snapshots of the gnome at the world’s most famous tourist spots.

From Salon

She crafted what she calls her “wonderful life,” layering in snapshots of her fiancé, Ben Felter, and framed by symbols of family and team.

From Los Angeles Times

She also showed photos of herself feeding her husband and snapshots with family.

From BBC

Related Words

• photo