abbreviation

PPI

pee-pee-EYE

PPI (abbreviation) means Pixels per inch: a measure of how densely pixels are packed on a screen, used as an indicator of sharpness. Example: “The new phone display runs at 460 PPI.”

abbreviation

technology Pixels per inch: a measure of how densely pixels are packed on a screen, used as an indicator of sharpness.

"The new phone display runs at 460 PPI."

"Higher PPI means individual pixels are harder to see."

chiefly British, finance Payment protection insurance: a policy sold alongside loans and credit cards to cover repayments if the borrower fell ill or lost their job, notoriously mis-sold in Britain and the subject of a mass compensation scheme.

"He reclaimed four thousand pounds in mis-sold PPI."

economics Producer price index: an economic measure of the change in prices that producers receive for their output.

"The PPI rose faster than expected last quarter, hinting at inflation to come."

How to Use PPI

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOn a screen, how many pixels fit into an inch — the higher the number, the sharper the picture.

When to use it

The right sense depends entirely on the field: technology, UK personal finance, economics, or medicine, where PPI can also mean proton pump inhibitor.

Memory tip

PPI refers to pixels on a screen; DPI refers to dots of ink on paper. They are frequently used interchangeably but describe different things.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

DPI PII CPI →

Common pairings

high PPI display PPI claim mis-sold PPI PPI inflation

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

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The new phone display runs at 460 _____.

Etymology

An initialism; each sense abbreviates a different phrase.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

pixel density

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between PPI and DPI?

PPI counts pixels per inch on a digital display or in an image file. DPI counts the dots of ink a printer lays down per inch of paper. Software often blurs the two, but if there is no ink involved, PPI is the correct term.

What was the PPI scandal?

Payment protection insurance was sold with loans and credit cards across Britain, frequently to people who could never have claimed on it or who did not know they had bought it. Regulators forced banks to pay compensation, resulting in one of the largest consumer redress programmes ever run in the UK. The claims deadline has now passed.

What PPI counts as a good screen?

Roughly 300 PPI or above on a phone held at normal distance is enough that most people cannot pick out individual pixels. Larger screens viewed from further away need far less, which is why televisions have much lower PPI than phones and still look sharp.