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
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Noun
What's Next The sale of the telegram highlights continued public fascination with the Titanic, more than a century after its tragic voyage. Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 In 1949, during the Cold War era, the Soviet Union sent a withdrawal notice by telegram. Fatma Tanis, NPR, 17 Jan. 2025 By February of 1965, over a million records were sold and to this day, Williams still has those congratulatory telegrams and plaques on his wall at home. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 8 Jan. 2025 The story is uniquely told through diary entries, letters, telegrams and newspaper clippings. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 5 Oct. 2024 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

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Cite this Entry

“Telegram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegram. Accessed 31 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

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