Low key or lowkey?
low key is an adjective meaning “Dark; characterized by dark tones and muted colors”; lowkey is an adjective meaning “Alternative spelling of low-key”. low key is written as two words and lowkey as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between low key and lowkey?
| low key | lowkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, adverb, noun | adjective, adverb |
| Meaning | Dark; characterized by dark tones and muted colors Restrained, subtle, not trying to attract attention colloquialIn a low-key or surreptitious manner; secretively; understatedly; on the down-low | Alternative spelling of low-key |
| Example | She deserves an Oscar for her low-key performance in that movie | none recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˌləʊˈkiː/ /ˌləʊkiː/ /ˌləʊˌkiː/ | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | about once in every 2 million words |
Sources: low key and lowkey in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of low key and lowkey
low key
- 1
Dark; characterized by dark tones and muted colors
- 2
colloquialIn a low-key or surreptitious manner; secretively; understatedly; on the down-low
- 3
A restrained or subdued situation
- 4
colloquialAlternative spelling of low-key
- 5
Restrained, subtle, not trying to attract attention
She deserves an Oscar for her low-key performance in that movie
- 6
CanadaUScolloquialUsed as a downtoner; kind of
- 7
A dark area of a photograph with little contrast
- 8
colloquialActually; seriously
lowkey
- 1
Alternative spelling of low-key
- 2
Alternative spelling of low-key
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, low key or lowkey?
low key is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; lowkey about once in every 2 million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).