Imaging spectroradiometry or hyperspectral imaging is a new technique for investigating natural resources as a tool for environmental mapping. The increased interest among scientists for the application of this technique is accompanied by an interchangeably usage of several technical terms having originally well established, different meaning, what calls for clarification of the definitions and the terminology. This paper provides an overview of the disturbing word usage, the history of the development of the technical terms and their explanation based on the corresponding physical measuring instruments.