noun

JPEG

JAY-peg

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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.”

noun

A widely used format for storing photographs, which shrinks the file by discarding fine detail the eye is unlikely to notice.

"Most cameras save straight to JPEG unless you tell them otherwise."

"The site only accepts JPEG and PNG uploads."

An individual image saved in that format.

"He sent over a JPEG of the receipt."

technical The Joint Photographic Experts Group itself, the committee that produced the standard.

"The standard was published by JPEG in the early 1990s."

How to use JPEG

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe common file type for photos, which trades a little quality for a much smaller file.

When to use it

Everyday word. Written in capitals; "jpeg" in lower case appears informally.

Memory tip

Pronounced JAY-peg, one syllable for the letters and one for the rest — not spelled out letter by letter.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

JPG → PNG → RAW → HEIC →

Common pairings

save as a JPEG JPEG compression JPEG artefacts high-quality JPEG

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “JPEG” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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JPG photo file image format

Related words

JPG PNG WebP HEIC

Rhymes for JPEG

peg

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.

What is the meaning of 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.

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JPG PNG WebP HEIC