television

noun

tele·​vi·​sion ˈte-lə-ˌvi-zhən 

 especially British  ˌte-lə-ˈvi-

often attributive

1

: an electronic system of transmitting transient images of fixed or moving objects together with sound over a wire or through space by apparatus that converts light and sound into electrical waves and reconverts them into visible light rays and audible sound

2

: a television receiving set

3

a

: the television broadcasting industry

b

: television as a medium of communication

c

: programming distributed over the Internet that is designed to be viewed in the same format as broadcast television

A couple of couch companions watching TV on tablets might not see the same thing any more, even when watching the same shows. Ad personalization—routine for most of the Web—has come to streaming television.

—Donna Howell

The quarter was the 10th anniversary of Netflix's streaming service, which began with the vision that internet television would ultimately replace traditional television.

—Emily Steel

Synonyms

• boob tube
• box
• idiot box
• telly [chiefly British]
• tube
• TV

Examples of television in a Sentence

people who turn on the television the minute they walk in the door

Recent Examples on the Web

State-run television reported the entire population of 10 million people was without electricity — at least the second such incident in less than a month on the island. —Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

But with those now-four-year old televisions starting to get long in the tooth for some impatient customers, XXL TVs represent an attractive upgrade. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

That same month, Trump was nearly killed on live television when a gunman opened fire during the former president’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania. —Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Podcasts skew young at a time when younger audiences may rarely see political ads on television or interviews on major broadcast or cable news networks. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French télévision, from télé- tele- + vision vision

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing television

• cable television
• community antenna television
• educational television
• on (the) television
• pre-television
• reality TV/television
• satellite television
• television set

Kids Definition

television

noun

tele·​vi·​sion ˈtel-ə-ˌvizh-ən 

1

: an electronic system of transmitting images with sound over a wire or through space by devices that change light and sound into electrical waves and then change these back into light and sound

2

: a television receiving set

3

: the television broadcasting industry