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
In China, there are bas-relief carvings of a fertility ritual that are at least 3,000 years old, making them among the oldest examples of pornography in the world.
—
Liam Scott, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Stop One: Rome Ostiense Station announces itself with a massive bas-relief of Pegasus and his handler, the Greek demigod Bellerophon.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Three of the same family design — decorated with bas-relief garlands — face the trail.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 21 Dec. 2025
Both men will have bronze bas-relief plaques in Cooperstown, but only Ohtani will have a 2025 World Series ring.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Up in Albany, visitors can scan the entrance hall of the State House for a bas-relief portrait of Ginsburg in the sandstone walls — the first face added to the gallery since 1898 and the room’s only Jew.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2025
Moraes developed computer models to simulate draping a sheet on both a 3D human form and a bas-relief carving to test which version most closely matched the figure preserved in the shroud.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2025
This sumptuous accommodation also houses a formal dining table for eight that’s backed by a bas-relief wall, a living room, a powder room and two bedrooms.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Those ornamental bas-reliefs are pricey to maintain.
—Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
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Liam Scott, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026
Stop One: Rome Ostiense Station announces itself with a massive bas-relief of Pegasus and his handler, the Greek demigod Bellerophon.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Three of the same family design — decorated with bas-relief garlands — face the trail.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 21 Dec. 2025
Both men will have bronze bas-relief plaques in Cooperstown, but only Ohtani will have a 2025 World Series ring.
—Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Up in Albany, visitors can scan the entrance hall of the State House for a bas-relief portrait of Ginsburg in the sandstone walls — the first face added to the gallery since 1898 and the room’s only Jew.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2025
Moraes developed computer models to simulate draping a sheet on both a 3D human form and a bas-relief carving to test which version most closely matched the figure preserved in the shroud.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2025
This sumptuous accommodation also houses a formal dining table for eight that’s backed by a bas-relief wall, a living room, a powder room and two bedrooms.
—Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Those ornamental bas-reliefs are pricey to maintain.
—Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bas-relief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bas-relief. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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