bokeh

noun

bo·​keh ˈbō-kā How to pronounce bokeh (audio)
-kə
: the blurred quality or effect seen in the out-of-focus portion of a photograph taken with a narrow depth of field
Good bokeh is smooth and pleasing, whereas bad bokeh produces a jagged and discordant effect. … The quality of bokeh is largely dependent on the construction of the lens. For this reason, lenses that provide high-quality bokeh are prized.Harold Davis

Examples of bokeh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The mod preserved all the lens glass but exchanged the iris element for one with additional iris blades, producing a more rounded bokeh. Daron James, IndieWire, 27 May 2025 Anyone moving from a smartphone up to the EOS 2000D will be amazed by the image quality and the ability to produce shots with beautiful bokeh (background blur). Rowena Cockett, Space.com, 26 May 2025 It’s just shot after shot of Jason Isaacs looking doped up and stressed out in a sea of bokeh blur. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The larger sensor allows more light intake, and natural bokeh. Ben Sin, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bokeh

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese boke "blur, haziness"

First Known Use

1997, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bokeh was in 1997

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Cite this Entry

“Bokeh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bokeh. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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