noun
Common
channels
CHA-nuhlz
Channels (noun) means the proper, official routes for communication or approval within an organization. Example: “He went through the correct channels to get the proposal approved.”
noun
1
The proper, official routes for communication or approval within an organization.
"He went through the correct channels to get the proposal approved."
"Complaints should be sent through the proper channels, not shouted across the office."
"Official channels can be slow, but they keep a record of every request."
How to use channels
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe official procedures or lines of authority for getting something done.
Common pairings
through the proper channels
official channels
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He went through the correct _____ to get the proposal approved.
Synonyms
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avenues
routes
conduits
pathways
procedures
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “channels” mean?
The word “channels” means the proper, official routes for communication or approval within an organization. In plain terms, the official procedures or lines of authority for getting something done.
How do you pronounce “channels”?
“Channels” is pronounced CHA-nuhlz (/ˈt͡ʃænəlz/ in IPA).
How do you use “channels” in a sentence?
Here is “channels” used in a sentence: “He went through the correct channels to get the proposal approved.”
What part of speech is “channels”?
“Channels” is a noun.
Is “channels” a common word?
“Channels” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between channels and chain of command?
Channels are the official routes a request, message, or approval must follow within an organization, while the chain of command is the ranked line of authority from top to bottom. The chain of command tells you who reports to whom; channels tell you the path a communication should take, which usually follows that chain.
What are "back channels"?
Back channels are unofficial or private routes of communication used alongside, or instead of, an organization's official channels. The term is common in diplomacy, where "back-channel talks" are discreet negotiations held away from formal, public procedures.
What are common collocations with channels in the sense of official routes?
Channels in this sense appears mostly in formal and workplace English, in collocations such as "official channels," "diplomatic channels," "appropriate channels," and "through the usual channels." The word is nearly always plural in this meaning.
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