pixel

noun

pix·​el ˈpik-səl 

-ˌsel

plural pixels

1

: any of the small discrete elements that together constitute an image (as on a television or digital screen)

… the number of pixels determines how sharp and realistic the image looks.

—Leslie Meredith

2

: any of the detecting elements of a solid-state optical sensor (such as a CCD or CMOS device)

The team used a new CCD detector that has an 8,192 by 8,192 pixel array, which makes it the world's largest astronomical CCD.

—Astronomy

the … CMOS image sensor provides a 9-µm pixel size …

—Mathew Dirjish

Did you know?

Is it pixelated or pixilated?

Pixelated is used to describe digital images in which individual pixels are discernable, as when you look closely at a large photo and can see the tiny dots that make up the image. Pixilated (coined from pixie, a pixie being a cheerful, mischievous sprite) is usually used to describe things considered whimsical, or people who seem dazed or lost in thought. While pixelated is a late 20th century coinage, pixilated has been in use since the mid-19th century.

Examples of pixel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year’s adaptation of the wildly popular sandbox survival-crafting game didn’t exactly have critics losing their pixels, but faithful fans loved it. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

Those changes alter how each pixel manipulates infrared light. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Other world-model approaches, such as Yann LeCun’s JEPA, try to predict the abstract state of a scene rather than generate every future pixel. — ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

Compared to infinite scrolling wheels that spin freely but are harder to control, the rotary wheel scrolls with small precise silent tactile clicks that can be controlled pixel by pixel even while quickly scrolling. — Shirl Leigh july 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

pix + element

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pixel

noun

pix·​el ˈpik-səl 

-ˌsel

: any of the small elements that together make up an image (as on a television screen) or sensor (as in a camera)

Etymology

from pix, an altered form of pictures, and element