bit rate
noun
variants
or less commonly bit-rate
or bitrate
: a measure of the speed of data processing usually calculated as the number of bits per second
MP3 measures compression settings in terms of a file's bit rate—the average number of bits required for one second of sound.—
Jim Heid
Jim HeidExamples of bit rate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Higher bit rates and color depth take up more room on your memory card, but provide better-looking video that can handle some color correction in the editing room.
—PC Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The Relay’s sonic performance can be tweaked thanks to customizable parameters, which include selectable high/low gain, six digital filter modes and support for variable bit rates that go as high as 32-bit / 768kHz.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Granta’s anti-jamming approach switches to a lower bit rate.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
These are bit rates for the app; the web player sticks you with 128 Kbps and 256 Kbps, respectively.
—Matt Jancer, Wired News, 15 May 2023
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PC Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The Relay’s sonic performance can be tweaked thanks to customizable parameters, which include selectable high/low gain, six digital filter modes and support for variable bit rates that go as high as 32-bit / 768kHz.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Granta’s anti-jamming approach switches to a lower bit rate.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
These are bit rates for the app; the web player sticks you with 128 Kbps and 256 Kbps, respectively.
—Matt Jancer, Wired News, 15 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Bit rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bit%20rate. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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