lowercase

[ loh-er-keys ]

/ ˈloʊ ərˈkeɪs /

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adjective

(of an alphabetic letter) of a particular form often different from and smaller than its corresponding capital letter, and occurring after the initial letter of a proper noun, of the first word in a sentence, etc. The lowercase letters a, b, q, and r have more distinctive shapes than their uppercase counterparts, A, B, Q, and R.

Printing. pertaining to or belonging in the lower case, such as i, p, or d.Compare case² (def. 8).

verb (used with object), low·er·cased, low·er·cas·ing.

to print or write with a lowercase letter or letters, such as u, w, or j.

noun

a lowercase letter, such as z, y, or k.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare uppercase.

Origin of lowercase

First recorded in 1675–85; lower¹ + case² (in the sense “a tray divided into compartments for holding types for a compositor to use”)

Other definitions for lowercase (2 of 2)

lower case

[ loh-er ]

/ ˈloʊ ər /

noun Printing.

See under case² (def. 8).

Origin of lower case

First recorded in 1675–85

How to use lowercase in a sentence

Murderous ideology was once central to world history (with a lower case "h").
David's Book Club: Darkness At Noon|David Frum|August 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The mixing of upper- and lower-case letters shows confusion regarding his identity and could be the writing of a teenager.
Analyzing Michael Jackson's Handwriting|Arlyn Imberman|July 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
It was news to them, the lower-case-R Royalists, that their government was managing the economy poorly.
What I Saw at the Revolution|Porochista Khakpour|February 11, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Dick's lower-case, lower-abdominal second meaning has been around for while.
The Last Dick|Michael Schaffer|December 2, 2008|DAILY BEAST

Letters that are accented in the lower case are typically not accented in the upper case.
Fifty Soups|Thomas J. Murrey
They're lower case people—tin pergola and pebble garden sort.
Ptomaine Street|Carolyn Wells
Lower case Roman numerals often end with a ‘j’ instead of an ‘i.’
Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume II|Richard Cocks
Other references are printed in "lower case," or "small," type.
The Art of Public Speaking|Dale Carnagey (AKA Dale Carnegie) and J. Berg Esenwein
It may be queried, however, whether the lower-case alphabet had not better be reformed by abolishing it altogether.
A Librarian's Open Shelf|Arthur E. Bostwick

British Dictionary definitions for lowercase

lower case

noun

a compositor's type case, in which the small letters are kept

adjective lower-case

of or relating to small letters

verb lower-case

(tr) to print with lower-case letters

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