MP3

noun

ˌem-(ˌ)pē-ˈthrē 

1

: a computer file format for the compression and storage of digital audio data

2

: a computer file (as of a song) in the MP3 format

Examples of MP3 in a Sentence

downloading MP3s off the Internet

Recent Examples on the Web

Carlsson sees a historic precedent here, noting that the MP3 revolution was kicked off by Sweden's Pirate Bay and then Napster before a second Swedish company stepped in to bring order to the market. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the file extension .mp3 used for such files, short for MPEG Audio Layer 3

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

MP3

noun

ˌem-(ˌ)pē-ˈthrē 

1

: a computer file format for the compression and storage of digital audio data

2

: a computer file (as a song) in MP3 format