Definition of lossy
1 : involving or causing some loss of data
Lossy compression is a way of getting even smaller squeezed files than lossless. This technology strips out data it has been programmed to regard as either unnecessary or redundant.— Ron Goldberg The loss was literal: MP3 is what's called a "lossy" data-compression form of audio encoding; some audio information is demonstrably lost in the process.— Virginia Heffernan
2 : causing attenuation or dissipation of electrical energy
a lossy transmission line a lossy dielectric
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Time Traveler for lossy
The first known use of lossy was in 1948
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