transmission

1 of 2

noun (1)

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmi-shən  tranz- 

1

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting

transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse

2

: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations

also : the act or process of transmitting by radio or television

3

: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the driveshaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a live axle

also : the speed-changing gears in such an assembly

4

: something that is transmitted : message

transmissive

tran(t)s-ˈmi-siv 

ˌtranz-

adjective

transmissivity

ˌtran(t)s-(ˌ)mi-ˈsi-və-tē 

ˌtranz-

noun

transmissivity

2 of 2

noun (2)

trans·​mis·​siv·​i·​ty ˌtran(t)sməˈsivətē 

-nzm-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being transmissive

specifically : the transmittance of a unit thickness of absorbing nondiffusing matter

Did you know?

Since trans- means "across", it's not hard to see the meaning of transmission. Disease transmission occurs when an infection passes from one living thing to another. TV signal transmission can be interrupted by tree leaves, including moving leaves and branches during a storm. Your car's transmission transmits the engine's power to the axle, changing the gears to keep the engine working with maximum efficiency at various speeds.

Examples of transmission in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The equipment is used for the transmission of television signals.

We are receiving a live transmission from the scene of the accident.

the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next

My car has a manual transmission.

This car comes with automatic transmission.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Quick removal is important because the longer a tick remains attached, the greater the risk of disease transmission. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

Each transmission helps establish pathways, which facilitate the future flow of information so that learning becomes easier over time. —Dr. Deepika Chopra, Flow Space, 16 June 2026

The little four-note melodic scraps tumble over each other ceaselessly in a call-and-response that scrambles your sense of which end is transmission and which is reception. —Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

The vehicles are being recalled for various reasons, including possible malfunctions in the automatic windows, gear selection and the car's transmission clutch. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French, from Latin transmission-, transmissio, from transmittere to transmit

Noun (2)

transmissive + -ity

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transmission

• automatic transmission
• community transmission
• manual transmission

Rhymes for transmission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən  tranz- 

1

: an act, process, or example of transmitting

2

: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations

3

: the gears by which the power is transmitted from the engine to the axle that gives motion to a motor vehicle

4

: something transmitted

Medical Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən  tranz- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting

transmission of HIV

synaptic transmission

Legal Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tranz-ˈmi-shən, trans- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting