lo-fi

noun

ˈlō-ˈfī 

: the production or reproduction of audio characterized by an unpolished or rough sound quality

lo-fi adjective

Examples of lo-fi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The space is warm and lo-fi—Polaroids of friends and a handwritten lineup of the day’s specials (which can be added at a supplementary cost) are stuck to a noticeboard—but the food is sharp and assured. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026

Alexandre Desplat’s score, meanwhile, toggles awkwardly between a pale imitation of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ melancholic lo-fi electronica in the previous film, and the ennobling orchestral themes that mark the filmmaker’s happier place. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

The germ of this idea was already latent in the first shot of Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), which shows a lo-fi close-up of Cage doing a terrible Australian accent in a TV commercial for VCRs. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

The film’s limited resources become a little more obvious towards the end, but Miike wears his low-budget bona fides with pride, and the lo-fi production values only add to the grittiness of its urban setting. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

low fidelity

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lo-fi

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny