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The museum’s collection includes a reconstructed 16th-century gold tearoom and a bas-relief bronze by Antoine Bourdelle originally made for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.
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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
Frosted-glass sconces on the walls bear bas-relief nudes in classical repose.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
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
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
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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
Frosted-glass sconces on the walls bear bas-relief nudes in classical repose.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Bas-relief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bas-relief. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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