hi-fis
hi-fis
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "hi-fis" is /ˌhaɪˈfaɪz/.
hi: /haɪ/ (as in "high")
fis: /faɪz/ (as in "fives")
Word Form Variations
Singular noun: hi-fi
Plural noun: hi-fis
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A system or piece of equipment for reproducing high-quality sound, especially music. These systems are known for their fidelity to the original sound source.
Synonyms: stereo, sound system, audio equipment, component system
Antonyms: mono, lo-fi, tinny sound, low-fidelity equipment
A person who is an enthusiast or connoisseur of high-fidelity audio equipment and sound reproduction.
Synonyms: audiophile, sound enthusiast, audio connoisseur, gearhead
Antonyms: casual listener, novice, neophyte
Examples of Use
Book: "When you had a bunch of teenagers on the street, and all their parents were working, they could get into all the hi-fis in the neighborhood. They'd just swap records back and forth." (From a memoir about growing up in the 1960s)
Newspaper: A 1997 advertisement in a local British newspaper sought to buy used electronics, listing items such as "VCRs, TVs, colour portables, hi-fis, Megadrives, SNES, Playstations, scanners, R/C cars, planes, musical instruments, Nintendo 64, computer." (Source: British Newspaper Archive, February 1997)
Online Publication: "When choosing a new sound system, it's a matter of picking the right one for your needs—are you a casual listener, or do you require the power and clarity of separates and larger hi-fis?" (Source: What Hi-Fi?, April 2025)
Entertainment: "And there are many places in the world where hi-fis are not the norm, and mobile phones are people's portable jukeboxes." (Source: The Guardian, August 2010)
Public Discourse: In discussions about the UK's move to digital radio, a government report noted that some respondents who listened to the radio on their existing hi-fis were asked to use new portable digital radios instead. (Source: GOV.UK)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hi-Fis
"Running out of the radio shack was hi-fis, video cameras and everything they could pick up." - William Gibson
"Without the CPF, Singaporeans would buy enormous quantities of clothes, shoes, furniture, television sets, radio, tape recorders, hi-fis, washing machines, motor cars." - Lee Kuan Yew (Source: Lib Quotes)
"Add as much details to Mid-Fis to make the Hi-Fi process easier." - Daniel Perez (Source: Medium, April 2020)
"They are also used in recording and mastering studios, and can be used with domestic hi-fis to great effect." - Unknown
"A stereo system for your home will usually fall into two categories, either all-in-one hi-fis or separates." - Unknown (Source: Richer Sounds)
"When you're listening to that I don't give a damn about exact frequency response and a huge soundstage, I just want it LOUD (which it does admirably!)." (This is a snippet from a longer discussion about hi-fis, where the term is used multiple times, on PistonHeads)
"Before there was HomePod, there was iPod Hi-Fi, still doing duty and sounding great!" (This is a Reddit post title from a user discussing their vintage audio equipment)
"They do not compare with dedicated hi-fis in terms of sound quality and should be considered as a secondary system to fill a smaller room with sound." - Unknown (Source: Harvey Norman)
"Onkyo adds “high performance” budget C-30 CD player to its Icon Series of hi-fi separates." (Source: What Hi-Fi?, December 2022)
"Hi-fis**, along with washing powder and envelopes, have been dropped from the official UK basket of goods used to measure inflation." (Source: The Office for National Statistics, March 2019)
Etymology
The word "hi-fi" is a shortened form of "high fidelity." "Fidelity" comes from the Latin word fidelitas, which means "faithfulness." In the context of sound, it refers to how accurately and faithfully a system reproduces the original sound.
The term "high fidelity" was first used in the 1920s to describe new technologies for recording and playing back sound that were more accurate than what had come before. It became much more common in the 1950s when home audio equipment became more advanced. This is when the shorter, more common term "hi-fi" really took off. People started using "hi-fi" as a simple, everyday way to talk about the high-quality sound systems they had in their homes.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hi-Fis
A hi-fi buff: A person who is very enthusiastic about high-fidelity audio equipment.
A hi-fi system: A complete set of audio components for playing music.
The sound of hi-fi: Referring to the specific high-quality audio reproduction associated with these systems.
Old-school hi-fi: Referring to vintage or classic audio equipment from a bygone era.
Like listening on a hi-fi: A phrase used to describe a clear, high-quality sound, even if it's not actually coming from a hi-fi system.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hi-fis from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
