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

Too challenging to qualify as radio rock, the Los Angeles songwriter’s cloudy, lo-fi grunge is stuffed with ’90s references and opaque secrets. — Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026

Everything has been given the full 4K restoration treatment; even Making ‘The Shining,’ the legendary lo-fi 1980 documentary that Stanley’s daughter, Vivian Kubrick, shot on the set of his Stephen King adaptation, gets a spit-and-polish upgrade. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

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

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