What does lowercase mean?
Lowercase describes letters that are not capitals and the smaller form of a letter in the standard alphabet. It is used when discussing typography, writing conventions, and digital text: a heading may be set in lowercase, an online form may request lowercase input, or a program may convert a name to lowercase. The term is distinct from “uppercase,” which refers to capital letters, and from “capital,” which can mean one particular capital letter. As a verb, lowercase means to write or convert text without capital letters. Although lowercase text is often associated with informal digital communication, it also has formal uses in publishing, typography, legal writing, and computing. The word combines “low” with “case,” an older term for the form and size of a letter, and reflects the historical practice of using larger forms for the beginning of sentences or proper names and smaller forms elsewhere.
Denoting letters that are not capitals or the smaller-sized form of a letter.
"The title appeared in a bold lowercase typeface."
Common in typography, publishing, computing, and writing instruction.
To write or convert text in letters other than capitals.
"The editor lowercased the heading to match the design."
Common in editing, computing, and publishing contexts.
Lowercase is the alphabet’s quiet mode: it keeps the same information while changing its visual volume.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lowercase come from?
The compound “lowercase” developed from “low” and “case,” with “case” originally referring to the form or size of a letter and later to letterforms generally. The expression has been in use since the early modern period, when printing systems distinguished capital and non-capital forms. The component “case” also underlies related words such as “uppercase” and “casing,” while “lowercase” itself is the established English form.
Related word forms
How lowercase is actually used
In writing and typography, lowercase is the standard technical term for letters other than capitals. The verb form is common in computing, editing, and publishing contexts.
Easily confused with lowercase
Lowercase letters are the smaller, uncapitalized form of the alphabet, whereas uppercase letters are the larger capital form.
A capital is a specific uppercase letter, while lowercase refers to the non-capital form of the alphabet or to text written without capitals.