English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

telethon

TEHL-uh-thon

Telethon (noun) means a long televised event that asks viewers to donate money, usually by phone, for a charitable cause. Example: “The children's hospital telethon raised over a million pounds in one night.”

noun
1
A long televised event that asks viewers to donate money, usually by phone, for a charitable cause.
"The children's hospital telethon raised over a million pounds in one night."

How to use telethon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA TV fundraiser where viewers phone in donations.

Common pairings
host a telethon annual telethon

Word forms

telethons plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “telethon” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The children's hospital _____ raised over a million pounds in one night.

Etymology

A blend of telephone and marathon.

Frequently asked questions

What does “telethon” mean?

The word “telethon” means a long televised event that asks viewers to donate money, usually by phone, for a charitable cause. In plain terms, a TV fundraiser where viewers phone in donations.

How do you pronounce “telethon”?

“Telethon” is pronounced TEHL-uh-thon (/ˈtɛl.əˌθɒn/ in IPA).

How do you use “telethon” in a sentence?

Here is “telethon” used in a sentence: “The children's hospital telethon raised over a million pounds in one night.”

What part of speech is “telethon”?

“Telethon” is a noun.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial