JPEG
JPEG (noun) means a widely used format for storing photographs, which shrinks the file by discarding fine detail the eye is unlikely to notice. Example: “Most cameras save straight to JPEG unless you tell them otherwise.”
How to Use JPEG
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe common file type for photos, which trades a little quality for a much smaller file.
Everyday word. Written in capitals; "jpeg" in lower case appears informally.
Pronounced JAY-peg, one syllable for the letters and one for the rest — not spelled out letter by letter.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Most cameras save straight to _____ unless you tell them otherwise.
Etymology
An acronym of Joint Photographic Experts Group, the standards committee whose image-compression standard the format implements.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for JPEG
See all rhymes for JPEG →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between JPEG and JPG?
There is none — they are two spellings of the same format. Older versions of Windows allowed only three characters after the dot in a filename, so .jpeg was shortened to .jpg, and both extensions survive today.
What is the difference between JPEG and PNG?
JPEG uses lossy compression, meaning it throws away some image data to make the file smaller, which suits photographs with lots of gradual colour changes. PNG is lossless and keeps every pixel exactly, which suits logos, screenshots and diagrams with sharp edges or flat colour. PNG also supports transparency, while ordinary JPEG does not.
Why do JPEGs look worse each time they are saved?
Because the compression is lossy, each save discards a little more detail. Re-saving the same image repeatedly compounds those losses and produces the blocky, smeared look often called JPEG artefacts.