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.

wireless reception

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

WLAN wireless networking wireless internet wireless signal connection

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.”

wireless WLAN wireless networking wireless internet

Opposites

Ethernet wired networking

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.”

wireless signal connection reception

How to use Wi-Fi

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

free Wi-Fi Wi-Fi password Wi-Fi network connect to Wi-Fi Wi-Fi router public Wi-Fi

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.

People also searched

reception wireless Ethernet connection

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of Wi-Fi