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lo-fi

British

/ ˈləʊˈfaɪ /

adjective

informal (of sound reproduction) of or giving an impression of poor quality

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lo-fi

C20: modelled on _hi-fi

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.

The musician is also the youngest ever recipient of the prize, which comes just five years after she posted the lo-fi breakout tracks Break it Off and Pain on TikTok.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

On “Elka,” Tortoise turns to the 4/4 pulse of minimal techno, capturing the lo-fi static of Detroit acts like Drexciya, who fashioned earth-shaking dance tracks from modest equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

The result is 1982’s “Nebraska,” the acoustic, lo-fi, homespun record that established Springsteen as an artist for the ages.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2025

Naturally, some early fans grumbled as they moved beyond their lo-fi sound.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2025

People participating in their pajamas may get an extra kick out of pressing play on Albert Birney’s “OBEX,” a cheekily lo-fi, black-and-white art-house movie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023