Archivbild

archive photo; file photo

noun ar-KHEEF-bilt Rare

Usage Note

Archivbild is a photograph taken previously and stored in the editorial archive, used to illustrate a current article when no new image is available. News outlets are obliged to label it as Archivbild (or Archivfoto) so readers know it was not taken in connection with the current story.

Examples

"Die Zeitung verwendete ein Archivbild aus dem Jahr 2019, weil keine aktuellen Fotos vorlagen."

Natural Translation

The newspaper used a file photo from 2019 because no current photos were available.

Literal Translation

The newspaper used an archive-photo from the year 2019, because no current photos were-available.

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