English Reference

Word

bezel

UK/bˈɛzəl/

Definition

n. the frame or border that goes around the screen of a device like a phone or watch. It is the part that holds the glass in place.

n. the frame or rim that surrounds a screen, lens, or other component. In computing, it specifically refers to the border of a display screen or the ring that holds a watch face.

Examples

“The new phone has a very thin bezel.”

“The designer chose a matte black bezel to make the screen look larger and more modern.”

“While early smartphones featured thick bezels for structural integrity, modern manufacturing allows for ultra-thin frames that maximize the screen-to-body ratio without compromising durability.”

Examples

simple

“The new phone has a very thin bezel.”

contextual

“The designer chose a matte black bezel to make the screen look larger and more modern.”

complex

“While early smartphones featured thick bezels for structural integrity, modern manufacturing allows for ultra-thin frames that maximize the screen-to-body ratio without compromising durability.”

Real-World Examples

“The final version mostly holds itself together, though the front bezel requires either some electrical tape or a couple dabs of superglue to stay attached.”
Ars Technica · 23 Jul 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from French bisel, a dialectal variant of biseau (“sloping edge”), a variation on bijou (“jewel”), itself from Breton bisou, bizou (“ring worn on the finger”), from biz (“finger”). Unrelated to similar bevel, which is of a different French origin.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Computing

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/bezel

English Reference