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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• ultra-lo-fi
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lo-fi

C20: modelled on _hi-fi

Example Sentences

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

He found the answer through lo-fi, experimental albums like McCartney and McCartney II, and the jet-stream rock of his 1970s band Wings.

From BBC • May 27, 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