Hint (Digital Typography)

Definition

An instruction added to a digital font to improve its rendering at low resolutions by aligning outlines to the pixel grid. Hinting adjusts the way curves and stems are rasterised so that letters remain legible and evenly weighted on screen or in low-resolution print.

Source

Robert Bringhurst — p. 325:
An instruction added to a digital font to improve its rendering at low resolutions.