telegram

1 of 2

noun

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce telegram (audio)
 Southern also  -grəm
: a telegraphic dispatch

telegram

2 of 2

verb

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce telegram (audio)
telegrammed; telegramming

Examples of telegram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said in a post on his telegram channel that the Russian air force downed four drones heading toward the capital. Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Still have those four telegrams hanging up in my home today. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024 And there was mail, and telegrams, and the other guests . . Daniel Mason, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 Another attack avenue would be to create rogue transmitters that would broadcast malicious telegrams. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for telegram

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telegram was circa 1852

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Telegram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegram. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

telegram

noun
tele·​gram
ˈtel-ə-ˌgram,
 Southern also  -grəm
: a message sent by telegraph

More from Merriam-Webster on telegram

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!