lite

1 of 2

adjective

ˈlīt 

1

: light entry 4 sense 9a

lite beer

lite salad dressing

2

: diminished or lacking in substance or seriousness

lite news

specifically : being an innocuous or unthreatening version

—often used postpositively

it is film noir lite

—James Greenberg

-lite

2 of 2

noun combining form

: mineral

rhodolite

: rock

aerolite

: fossil

stromatolite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The lite model is designed for handheld play, easy to toss into a carry-on, and is compatible with over 5,000 games. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2023

The problem for Apple was that the Windows PC and Chromebook reacted and adopted many of the positive characteristics of the iPad like capacitive touch, pen, app store, LTE, long battery life and thin and lite. —Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2021

The scratchings in question here are a series of diary entries by the fictitious 4th-century AD Roman matron whose name is in the title; the novel consists of her jottings over two decades—shopping lists, somewhat lite musings on parties and friends, affairs and deaths. —Daniel Mendelsohn, Town & Country, 1 May 2021

Of course no one could have guessed the level of success that would await Underwood, but this glossy confection of lite-country-pop would still sound suitable in her live shows. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 22 May 2022

With lite navigation, bike riders will be able to see details about their route without needing to keep their screen on or engage turn-by-turn navigation. —Alexis Benveniste, CNN, 6 Oct. 2021

It’s rounded out with intriguing talents like Bridgers, the lite-country singer Ingrid Andress, the rapper Chika and the soulful dance-music producer Kaytranada. —Ben Sisario, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2020

The acoustic guitar twirl signifies late-nineties R. & B., and the stuttering, dancehall-lite pop-radio rhythms evoke the decades that follow. —Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2022

Highlights include lite bites, wine and beer discounts, along with holiday décor. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Dec. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Noun combining form

borrowed from French, respelling of earlier -lithe, borrowed from Greek líthos "stone, rock," of obscure origin

Note: As pointed out by the Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, the acceptability of the non-classical spelling -lite for -lithe or -lith may have been advanced by the long-established word chrysolite.

First Known Use

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

lite

variant of light entry 2