What does lossless mean?
Lossless means that nothing has been lost, damaged, or reduced in quality, quantity, or information. The term is especially common in digital technology: lossless compression preserves every bit of the original data, including information that the eye or ear might not consciously notice. This contrasts with lossy compression, which reduces file size by discarding some data and can therefore alter an image, sound, or recording. Outside technical settings, lossless can describe any process or result that keeps something completely intact, such as a lossless copy or a translation that preserves the source text’s meaning and ambiguity. The word is precise and useful because it distinguishes exact preservation from ordinary copies, which may omit, simplify, or degrade information.
adjectiveWithout any loss or reduction in quality, quantity, or information. In technical contexts, it describes a process or format that preserves the original data exactly.
- Without any loss, damage, or reduction in quality, quantity, or information.
"The archive was stored in a lossless format so that the original recordings remained fully intact."
"Lossless compression preserves the original recording without discarding any audible detail."
"The translator promised a lossless rendition of the text, retaining every deliberate ambiguity."
Lossless compression keeps every original detail, making the file larger but preserving the source exactly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lossless come from?
The adjective is formed in English from the noun loss and the suffix -less, literally meaning “without loss.” The noun loss belongs to the same historical family as lose, which comes from Old English and refers to destruction, deprivation, or disappearance. The compound lossless developed in the context of preserving data and other materials without deterioration or reduction.
Related word forms
How lossless is actually used
Most common in computing, digital media, audio, and image processing, especially in reference to compression or file formats. It may also be used more broadly when emphasizing that nothing has been lost or altered.
Easily confused with lossless
Loss is the damage, disappearance, or reduction that occurs; lossless describes something that causes or undergoes no such reduction.