Wi-Fi
7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for Wi-Fi, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A technology that lets devices such as phones, laptops and televisions connect to a network, and usually to the internet, using radio signals instead of cables.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A technology that lets devices such as phones, laptops and televisions connect to a network, and usually to the internet, using radio signals instead of cables.
“The café has free Wi-Fi, but you have to ask at the counter for the password.”
Opposites
2. noun
The signal or connection itself, as experienced by a user in a particular place.
“The Wi-Fi upstairs is terrible compared with the ground floor.”
How to Use Wi-Fi
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Everyday and universal. The official styling is Wi-Fi with a hyphen and capitals, but wifi and WiFi are extremely common in informal writing.
Etymology
A brand name adopted by the industry group that certifies compatible wireless equipment. It is a coined trade name rather than an abbreviation, though it plays on the older term hi-fi.
Full origin of Wi-Fi →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Wi-Fi and the internet?
Wi-Fi is only the last, wireless step between your device and a router in the building. The internet is the global network your router reaches through a broadband line, fibre or mobile connection. That is why you can be connected to Wi-Fi and still have no internet access, if the line beyond the router is down.
Is Wi-Fi the same as broadband?
No. Broadband is the service that brings a connection into the property, usually over a cable or fibre line. Wi-Fi is the wireless method of sharing that connection with devices inside the property.
What do 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz mean on a Wi-Fi network?
They are two different radio frequency bands a router can use. The 2.4 GHz band generally travels further and passes through walls more easily, while the 5 GHz band typically carries more data over shorter distances. Many routers offer both.