television

noun

tele·​vi·​sion ˈte-lə-ˌvi-zhən How to pronounce television (audio)
 especially British  ˌte-lə-ˈvi-
often attributive
Synonyms of televisionnext
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

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of television in a Sentence

people who turn on the television the minute they walk in the door
Recent Examples on the Web On Thursday afternoon, the owner and manager were busy plotting business strategies for the upcoming A’s era as sporting events played out overhead across numerous television screens. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024 An Augusta National Golf Club green jacket hangs on the wall, and 81 televisions show the theatrics and athletic brilliance unfolding on the emerald grounds that host the Masters Tournament. —Kevin Draper Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024 Following their romance during season 1 of The Golden Bachelor, the former couple tied the knot on national television on Jan. 5. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024 The then-businessman and television celebrity sought to allay their worries by pledging to appoint conservative jurists to the Supreme Court. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024 Kenny’s hearing began to dissipate, Lee said, and his wife complained that the television was too loud. —Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024 The follow-up was initially commissioned as a television series for Disney+ but it was retooled into a feature film after executives were reportedly impressed by the footage. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024 Not only has McEntire been a pillar of country music since the early ‘90s, she’s also appeared in films and a variety of television shows, written best-selling books, and created her own retail empire. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2024 Is there a Trump presidency without reality television? —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'television.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French télévision, from télé- tele- + vision vision

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of television was in 1900

Phrases Containing television

Dictionary Entries Near television

televise

television

television receiver

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Television.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/television. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

television

noun
tele·​vi·​sion ˈtel-ə-ˌvizh-ən How to pronounce television (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on television

Nglish: Translation of television for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of television for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about television

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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