noun

wireframe

/ˈwaɪərfreɪm/ · say it: WY·er·fraym

a basic visual sketch of an interface layout

In more detail

1. (noun) a basic visual outline or sketch that shows the structure and layout of a website or app, without colors, images, or detailed design

2. (noun) a three-dimensional model made of wires or lines, used in computer graphics or engineering

Examples

1. The designer created a wireframe to plan where the buttons and text would go on the homepage.
2. The engineer built a wireframe model to test the structure before making the final product.

How to use wireframe

Wireframe is primarily used in design and development contexts to describe preliminary, structure-focused representations before detailed visual design or full implementation. In UX/UI design, it emphasizes layout and functionality; in 3D graphics, it refers to the skeletal structure underlying a model. It is standard terminology in professional design and tech settings.

Common phrases

create a wireframe
wireframe design
wireframe layout
low-fidelity wireframe
interactive wireframe

Synonyms

mockup · sketch · blueprint · outline · prototype

Word family

wireframed

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse wireframes with prototypes; wireframes are lower-fidelity and focus on structure, while prototypes are more interactive and realistic representations of the final product.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD