Illustration of bas-relief
bas-relief
noun
bas-re·lief
ˌbä-ri-ˈlēf 
ˌbas-,
ˌbās-;
ˈbä-ri-ˌlēf,
ˈbas-,
ˈbās-
art
: sculptural relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6) in which the projection from the surrounding surface is slight and no part of the modeled form is undercut (see undercut entry 1 sense 2)
also
: sculpture executed in bas-relief
a limestone bas-relief of a female figure
Did you know?
The best way to understand the meaning of bas-relief is to see one—and the easiest way to do that is to look at a penny, nickel, or other coin and examine the raised images on it; they're all bas-reliefs. English speakers adopted bas-relief from French (where bas means "low" and relief means "raised work") during the mid-1600s; earlier, we borrowed the synonymous basso-relievo from Italian. The French and Italian terms have common ancestors (and, in fact, the French word is likely a translation of the Italian), but English speakers apparently borrowed the two independently. Bas-relief is more prevalent in English today, although the Italian-derived term has not disappeared completely from the language.
Examples of bas-relief in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The chapter concludes with the Ipnotica rings and earrings, whose rounded, asymmetrical forms are set with white and brown diamonds to create a sculptural bas-relief effect.
—
Anthony Demarco,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
There are bronze finishes and other ornamental details, like a bas-relief of the city’s famous skyline and a large station clock.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Elsewhere, bas-relief panels by sculptor Etienne Rayssac are nods to the Normandie, the legendary transatlantic liner.
—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2026
My chat with Gilberto led to my learning the backstory behind the front desk’s bas-relief mustang stampede.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.
—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Four delicate bas-reliefs in granite embellish the pediments over its four entrances.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
The museum’s collection includes a reconstructed 16th-century gold tearoom and a bas-relief bronze by Antoine Bourdelle originally made for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
7 Mar. 2026
The bridge notably features bas-relief carvings on its bridge houses.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Anthony Demarco,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
There are bronze finishes and other ornamental details, like a bas-relief of the city’s famous skyline and a large station clock.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Elsewhere, bas-relief panels by sculptor Etienne Rayssac are nods to the Normandie, the legendary transatlantic liner.
—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2026
My chat with Gilberto led to my learning the backstory behind the front desk’s bas-relief mustang stampede.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.
—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Four delicate bas-reliefs in granite embellish the pediments over its four entrances.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
The museum’s collection includes a reconstructed 16th-century gold tearoom and a bas-relief bronze by Antoine Bourdelle originally made for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
7 Mar. 2026
The bridge notably features bas-relief carvings on its bridge houses.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bas-relief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bas-relief. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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