telegraph

1 of 3

noun (1)

tele·​graph ˈte-lə-ˌgraf 

1

: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals

especially : an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire

2

: telegram

telegraph

2 of 3

verb

telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs

transitive verb

1

a

: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph

b

: to send a telegram to

c

: to send by means of a telegraphic order

2

: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance

telegrapher

tə-ˈle-grə-fər 

noun

telegraphist

tə-ˈle-grə-fist 

noun

telegrapher

3 of 3

noun (2)

te·​leg·​ra·​pher tə̇ˈlegrəfə(r) 

ˈteləˌgrafə(r), 

-raaf-, 

-raif-, 

-rȧf-

plural -s

: one that sends and receives telegraphic messages : telegraphic operator

Examples of telegraph in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I sent the message by telegraph.

Verb

He telegraphed a message to her.

Please telegraph when you get there.

Please telegraph me when you get there.

The look on her face telegraphed bad news.

He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Cooke and Wheatstone telegraph may be considered the earliest commercial form of long-distance electronic communication. — Mike McRae 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

In the 1870s, a series of bubbles, including one in railroad stocks, moved quickly between Europe and the United States via the new transatlantic telegraph. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

Even though Ted Sarandos had long been telegraphing that a major reorganization was ahead at Netflix, Bela Bajaria didn’t expect the ax was coming for her role. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Yes, they were used for international phone calls, and there were also telegraph messages that could be sent. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Noun (2)

French télégraphe, from télé- tele- (from Greek tēle-) + -graphe -graph

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing telegraph

• telegraph pole

Rhymes for telegraph

• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph
• hodograph
• holograph
• hydrograph
• lithograph
• micrograph
• monograph

Kids Definition

telegraph

1 of 2 noun

tele·​graph ˈtel-ə-ˌgraf 

: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over wires

telegraphic

ˌtel-ə-ˈgraf-ik

adjective

telegraphically

-ˈgraf-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

telegraph

2 of 2 verb

1

: to send by or as if by telegraph

telegraphed a message

2

: to send a telegram to

telegraphed home for money

telegrapher

tə-ˈleg-rə-fər 

noun