bokeh

American  

[boh-kuh, boh-key] / ˈboʊ kə, ˈboʊˌkeɪ /

noun

1. the blurry quality in the out-of-focus parts of a photograph, regarded as an aesthetic effect rendered by a particular lens or its digital simulation.

   This lens creates beautifully sharp images with delightful bokeh that glows and diffuses into the background.

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Etymology

Origin of bokeh

First recorded in 1995–2000; from Japanese boke “fuzziness, blurring,” shortening of pinboke “state of being out of focus”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bokeh

Its use of a claustrophobic frame, swirly bokeh and color bias celluloid deepen a mother’s downward spiral.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

Another processing-intensive use case on the X80 Pro is a “cinematic video bokeh” mode designed to emulate the oval bokeh seen in scenes with shallow depth of field shot on Zeiss anamorphic lenses.

From The Verge ● May 18, 2022

A vibrant texture of blues and gold accentuates Roxanne’s whimsical radiance with the cinematographer turning to long lenses, flares and a blooming bokeh blur to illuminate the transcendent feeling of being swept off her feet.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2021

The A13 also promises an updated triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, plus a macro and a depth sensor for bokeh effects.

From The Verge ● Dec. 1, 2021

If you’re looking for that dramatic DSLR-style bokeh, you’ll still need to turn on Portrait mode.

From The Verge ● Nov. 9, 2020