switchboard

noun

switch·​board ˈswich-ˌbȯrd 

: an apparatus (as in a telephone exchange) consisting of a panel on which are mounted electric switches so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected, combined, and controlled

Examples of switchboard in a Sentence

She used to work as a switchboard operator.

Recent Examples on the Web

Space for 13 crew and 4 expedition staff with a crew mess, lounge, engineer’s office, switchboard room, and ship security system. —Kathleen Turner, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

In the suit, the plaintiffs claimed HHI defectively designed and manufactured the switchboard in such a manner that wiring connections were not secure, could not be verified as secure, and could lose connection during normal operation. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Aug. 2025

Siemens opened a $190 million facility that makes switchboards for data centers in March. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025

Flett remembers feeling vindicated as the number of calls briefly overwhelmed the switchboard. —Leslie Jamison, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for switchboard

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

Kids Definition

switchboard

noun

switch·​board -ˌbō(ə)rd 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

: a device (as in a telephone exchange) consisting of a panel on which are mounted electric switches so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected, combined, and controlled