Meaning & use
aspect ratio
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
The relationship between the width and height of an image, screen, or shape, expressed as two numbers.
Grammar: Often written with a colon: an aspect ratio of 16:9. The plural is aspect ratios.
Patterns
- the aspect ratio of something
- a 16:9 aspect ratio
- change the aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of this photo is 3:2.
Most modern TVs have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
You can adjust the aspect ratio in the settings menu.
Word forms
| plural | aspect ratios |
|---|
Common combinations
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- The video was shot in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- change the aspect ratio
- He changed the aspect ratio to make the image wider.
- maintain the aspect ratio
- When you resize the picture, maintain the aspect ratio so it doesn't look stretched.
- screen aspect ratio
- The phone's screen aspect ratio is 20:9.
Synonyms and how they differ
- proportions
- A more general word for the relative size of parts; 'aspect ratio' is the precise technical term for width-to-height.
Word family
- ratio noun
- A numerical relationship between two amounts.
Commonly confused: aspect ratio or resolution?
aspect ratio vs resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels (e.g. 1920x1080), while aspect ratio is the shape (e.g. 16:9). A screen can have high resolution and still be 16:9.
Practice
A widescreen TV typically has an aspect ratio of:
Choose one answer.
16:9 describes the width-to-height shape of a widescreen TV. 4:3 is the older, squarer shape; 1080p is a resolution; 60Hz is a refresh rate.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aspect ratio”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.