lo-fi

American  

[loh-fahy] / ˈloʊˌfaɪ /

adjective

1. Electronics, Music. of or relating to simple, low-quality, or imperfect sound reproduction, especially as a deliberate style of recording music; low fidelity.

2. lacking technical or technological sophistication, especially by design.

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noun

1. Electronics, Music. sound reproduction that is simple, low-quality, or imperfect as compared to hi-fi, especially as characteristic of a deliberately unpolished genre of music; low fidelity.

lo-fi British  

/ ˈləʊˈfaɪ /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• ultra-lo-fi
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lo-fi

C20: modelled on _hi-fi

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lo-fi

Marked by moody, lo-fi production, the group’s intense sophomore album explores the duality of despair and hope.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

All are what you might call lo-fi or DIY indie musicals: little to nothing in the way of fancy costumes, choreographed dances, glamor, splash, fantasy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

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

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

“Vulcanizadora” is a 10-years-later follow-up to “Buzzard” — because the word “sequel” almost sounds too materialistically mercenary for such lo-fi fare as this.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2025