What does matt mean?
Matt is a chiefly British adjective describing a surface that is dull rather than glossy or reflective. It is commonly used for paints, varnishes, printing inks, paper, photographs, and other materials whose finish is intended to absorb or diffuse light rather than reflect it sharply. A matt surface therefore tends to look soft, flat, and understated, while a glossy or reflective finish produces conspicuous highlights. In everyday British usage, matt is a spelling variant of matte, the form preferred in American English. The term is chiefly technical or design-related, but it can also occur in descriptions of interior decoration, photography, and printed images. It is useful when the precise visual quality of a surface matters: saying that a photograph is matt identifies not merely its lack of shine, but the deliberate visual effect produced by a non-reflective finish.
adjectiveHaving a dull, non-reflective surface, especially as a finish on paint, varnish, paper, or photographic material.
- Dull rather than glossy or reflective; used of surfaces, finishes, paints, varnishes, paper, and photographic prints.
"The photograph was printed on matt paper to give it a soft, non-glossy appearance."
"They chose a matt varnish for the doors to reduce unwanted reflections."
"The photograph has a matt finish that gives it a traditional, understated appearance."
A matt finish absorbs or diffuses light instead of throwing it back at you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does matt come from?
Matt is a chiefly British spelling variant of matte. The English word matte was borrowed from French matte, the feminine form of the French adjective mat, meaning dull; it was established in English for descriptive and technical uses relating to surfaces, printing, and photography. British usage later retained matt alongside the spelling matte.
How matt is actually used
The spelling matt is especially associated with British English; matte is more common in American English. The given name Matt is a separate proper noun and is normally capitalized.
Easily confused with matt
Matt is a chiefly British spelling variant of matte, the standard spelling in American English.
A mat is a protective floor covering or other flat piece of material, whereas matt describes a dull, non-reflective surface.