on-camera

[ on-kam-er-uh, -kam-ruh, awn- ]

adjective

1. within the range of a motion-picture or television camera; while being filmed or televised:

   on-camera blunders; The assassination happened on-camera.

Word History and Origins

Origin of on-camera¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Idioms and Phrases

Being filmed, as in When the talk-show host began, I wasn't sure if we were on camera . This usage dates from the first half of the 1900s, soon after the birth of motion-picture and television filming. The same is true of the antonym off camera , meaning “outside the view of a movie or TV camera,” as in Go ahead and scratch—we're off camera now .

Example Sentences

Thune, who in the past has stayed around to take questions from reporters for 10 or 15 minutes after GOP leadership press conferences, this time took three on-camera questions from reporters and went on his way.

From Slate

With Vance still yet to do a formal interview post-primary, it was my job to ask Vance about these comments on-camera.

From Salon

Nor did they know that Holcomb would be at a Pacers game they attended in Indianapolis, where the governor and Ferrell were introduced courtside — leading to an on-camera reckoning for the actor about the rudiments of effective allyship.

From Los Angeles Times

But only one of them, “Face to Face with Scott Peterson,” premiering Tuesday on Peacock, touts the participation of Peterson, who hasn’t given an on-camera interview since 2003.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump wasn't always so shy about his connections to the Heritage Foundation: his campaign press secretary stars in a Project 2025 recruitment ad; his former White House chief of staff promised on-camera to hand-deliver a Heritage Foundation policy blueprint for a second term; and Trump himself praised the Heritage Foundation's efforts at a 2022 dinner hosted by the think tank.

From Salon