Jump to:

• stereo
  stereo

  noun

  stereoscopic photography.
• stereo-
  stereo-

  a combining form borrowed from Greek, where it meant “solid”, used with reference to hardness, solidity, three-dimensionality in the formation of compound words.
• stereo.
  stereo.

  abbreviation

  stereotype.

stereo

¹ American  

[ster-ee-oh, steer-] / ˈstɛr iˌoʊ, ˈstɪər- /

noun

plural

stereos

1. stereoscopic photography.

2. a stereoscopic photograph.

3. stereophonic sound reproduction.

4. a system or the equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound.

5. Printing. stereotype.

---

adjective

1. pertaining to stereophonic sound, stereoscopic photography, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. Printing. stereotype.

stereo- ² American  

especially before a vowel, stere-.

1. a combining form borrowed from Greek, where it meant “solid”, used with reference to hardness, solidity, three-dimensionality in the formation of compound words.

   stereochemistry; stereogram; stereoscope.

---

stereo. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. stereotype.

---

stereo ¹ British  

/ ˈstɪər-, ˈstɛrɪəʊ /

adjective

1. short for stereophonic stereoscopic

---

noun

1. stereophonic sound

   to broadcast in stereo

2. a stereophonic record player, tape recorder, etc

3. photog

   1. stereoscopic photography

   2. a stereoscopic photograph

4. printing short for stereotype

stereo- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating three-dimensional quality or solidity

   stereoscope

---

Etymology

Origin of stereo¹

First recorded in 1815–25; by shortening

Origin of stereo-²

From the Greek word stereós

Explanation

A sound system with speakers that makes music seem to come from several directions at once—almost like it's all around you—is called a stereo. Your older brother should have set aside some money for food and rent instead of blowing his whole paycheck on a new stereo system. The kind of sound that's layered and three-dimensional is stereo sound, and the machine you use to play this type of recording is also called a stereo. The word is shorthand for stereophonic, which describes something recorded using two or more channels so that the sound seems to surround the listener and come from more than one source. You can also break this word into its Greek roots, stereo, "solid or three-dimensional," and phone, "voice."

Example Sentences

"It gives us what you might call a stereo perspective -- two different vantage points simultaneously."

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Reflexively, I swatted the off button on my car stereo.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

Beginning in the 1950s, Jamaica had a strong tradition of home-built stereo systems that were played outside and used for street dance parties.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

The tough thing about this is there’s a lot of nuance, and the best way to think about a criminal justice system is to think about it like an old-school stereo.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025

He has a TV, a stereo with a CD changer, even a telescope.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle

Related Words

• audio system
• radio
• sound system