audiovisual
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- audiovisually adverb
Etymology
Origin of audiovisual
Explanation
Audiovisual things incorporate both sight and sound. Television is an audiovisual type of entertainment, unlike radio, which is only auditory, and unlike comic books, which are purely visual. Audio means "sound" or "hearing," while visual means "sight" or "seeing." So the word audiovisual refers to things that engage both your sense of sight and your sense of hearing. The word can be an adjective as in "audiovisual material" or a noun as in "we need some audiovisuals." Education is one setting where you might encounter this word, since teachers are often very focused on making sure that their learning aids engage the senses.
Vocabulary lists containing audiovisual
Common Senses: Aud ("Hear")
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aud
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: aud
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
FBI agents outfitted the witness with audiovisual recording equipment to capture the discussion.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
CEO Harold Bevis believes tariffs will ultimately benefit NN by curbing Chinese competition for precision parts that appear in steering systems, audiovisual controls and more.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
The “Anthology” project found its origins in the early 1970s when Beatles insiders Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans began compiling “Scrapbook,” their rudimentary attempt at taking an audiovisual inventory of the group’s history.
From Salon • Nov. 21, 2025
Jonathan began his professional career in Mango in 2005 after studying audiovisual communication in the United States and business in Spain.
From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025
For a comprehensive audiovisual overview of jazz, try Ken Burns' PBS documentary.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
