lo-fi meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

lo-fi

adj

Etymology Syllabic abbreviation of low fidelity.

Having an old-fashioned quality, as if recorded with primitive equipment.

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Having a rough quality, not musically smooth and refined.

Recorded at home with makeshift tools.

noun

Etymology Syllabic abbreviation of low fidelity.

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A subgenre of hip-hop that includes traditional jazz elements and drum machine samples.

But I feel like the whole “lo-fi beats” thing has become like Starbucks music.2026 February 19, Stevie Chick, quoting Flying Lotus, “Musician and film-maker Flying Lotus: ‘The whole lo-fi beats thing has become like Starbucks music’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2026:

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A subgenre of rock music characterized by minimal production, giving a raw and unsophisticated sound.