television
TEH-lih-vih-zhuhn
Television (noun) means a device with a screen and speaker that receives and displays broadcast pictures and sound. Example: “Our old television stopped working, so we had to replace it.”
noun
1
A device with a screen and speaker that receives and displays broadcast pictures and sound.
"Our old television stopped working, so we had to replace it."
"Could you turn the television down? The baby is asleep."
"They bought a new television for the living room."
2
The medium or system of broadcasting moving pictures and sound to viewers, or the programmes shown that way.
"She works in television, producing documentaries."
"Television has changed a lot since the days of just three channels."
"My grandfather still prefers television to anything he can watch online."
How to use television
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the physical TV set, or the whole broadcasting medium/industry.
Common pairings
watch television
work in television
television programme
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Word forms
- Plural
- televisions
- Third person singular
- televisions
- Past tense
- televisioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our old _____ stopped working, so we had to replace it.
Etymology
From tele- ("far") and vision, first recorded around 1900, likely influenced by a paper on the concept by Constantin Perskyi presented in Paris that same year.
Class of 1900
television joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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TV set
boob tube
cultural barbiturate
electric tit
electronic babysitter
glass teat
goggle box
idiot's lantern
idiot box
magic box
television set
telly
Related words
Rhymes for television
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for television →
Frequently asked questions
What does “television” mean?
The word “television” means a device with a screen and speaker that receives and displays broadcast pictures and sound. In plain terms, either the physical TV set, or the whole broadcasting medium/industry.
How do you pronounce “television”?
“Television” is pronounced TEH-lih-vih-zhuhn (/ˈtɛlɪˌvɪʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “television” in a sentence?
Here is “television” used in a sentence: “They bought a new television for the living room.”
What is another word for “television”?
Words with a similar meaning to “television” include boob tube, cultural barbiturate, electric tit, electronic babysitter, glass teat and goggle box.
What part of speech is “television”?
“Television” is a noun.
Where does the word “television” come from?
The word “television” dates back to around 1900. From tele- ("far") and vision, first recorded around 1900, likely influenced by a paper on the concept by Constantin Perskyi presented in Paris that same year.
Is “television” a common word?
“Television” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “television” have?
“Television” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device with a screen and speaker that receives and displays broadcast pictures and sound.
What is the difference between a television and a monitor?
A television has a built-in tuner to receive broadcast channels and includes speakers, so it works on its own. A monitor is a display only — no tuner or speakers — designed to show output from a connected device like a computer. That reception ability is the key difference, though many modern screens blur the line.
Who invented the television?
There is no single inventor. Scottish engineer John Logie Baird demonstrated the first working mechanical television in the 1920s, while American Philo Farnsworth developed the first fully electronic system in 1927. Modern televisions descend mainly from the electronic approach, built on the work of several inventors over decades.
What is the difference between a smart TV and a regular TV?
A smart TV connects to the internet and runs apps for streaming services, web browsing, and more, much like a computer. A regular television only displays broadcast or connected-device signals. With a smart TV you can watch online content directly; a regular set needs an external streaming box to do the same.
Why is it called television?
The word combines the Greek 'tele,' meaning 'far,' with the Latin 'visio,' meaning 'sight' — literally 'seeing at a distance.' It describes the device's core purpose: showing pictures transmitted from far away. The term dates from the early twentieth century, when the technology was first being developed.
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