pixelated

adjective

pix·​e·​lat·​ed ˈpik-sə-ˌlā-təd 

of an image

: displayed in such a manner that individual pixels are discernible

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 pixelated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On Roblox, an online gaming platform beloved by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the site’s 151.5 million daily active users can manage and direct pixelated air traffic through an air traffic control simulator. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026

This pixelated format naturally curates a much cozier vibe. —K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2026

At this point just after the site's launch, most submissions are crude, pixelated drawings with the vibe of a digital stick-and-poke tattoo. —Boone Ashworth, Wired News, 2 Apr. 2026

We are all used to watching documentaries in which silhouetted, pixelated, or disguised contributors divulge their experiences. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pixel + -ated (after pixilated)

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pixelated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated