radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone and satellite transmissions) or radar signals

Examples of radio frequency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ambient IoT is an evolution of legacy IoT and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies that promises lower costs and high scalability through support by global telecommunications standards, including Bluetooth, 5G Advanced, and 802.11bp. —Bob Violino, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025

But observations in radio frequencies with multiple telescopes have come up empty. —Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2025

This presents potential complications, because the radio frequencies used to communicate with airplane pilots can be different than those used to communicate with helicopter pilots, per the NYT. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025

Only radio telescopes can locate GRGs, which glow at radio frequencies. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for radio frequency

• multifrequency
• infrequency

Kids Definition

radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies between about 3 kilohertz and 300 gigahertz that are used especially in radio and television transmission and in radar

Medical Definition

radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in a range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone transmissions) or radar signals

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

radio-frequency waves