résolution

Résolution is a term used in French and in many other languages, often borrowed into English with the same spelling or as resolution. It derives from Latin resolutio, from resolvere “to loosen” or “to separate.” In everyday use, resolution denotes the act of solving a problem or the decision that follows, as well as the outcome of that process. In formal settings, a resolution is a formal expression of the will or opinion of a deliberative body, such as a government, a legislative assembly, a corporation, or a committee.

In optics and imaging, resolution is the ability to distinguish fine detail in an object. In photography and video, image or display resolution is the number of distinct pixels, commonly given as width by height (for example, 1920×1080). Angular resolution measures how small an angle can be distinguished, important in astronomy and human vision. Practical limits include diffraction and sensor sampling; metrics such as the modulation transfer function relate to perceived sharpness.

In law and governance, a resolution is a formal decision or statement adopted by a body. In music, resolution describes the move from instability (dissonance) to stability (consonance) within a harmonic progression. In computing and data contexts, resolution can refer to display, image, or data precision, or the process of resolving a query or error in software.

Across contexts, resolution conveys a sense of finality—obtaining clarity, completeness, or a binding decision—whether addressing a dispute, a visual detail, or a policy issue.