telethon

noun

tele·​thon ˈte-lə-ˌthän How to pronounce telethon (audio)
: a long television program usually to solicit funds especially for a charity

Examples of telethon 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.
Trying to overcome those concerns, Newsom and liberal influencers held a three hour long telethon, doubling down on their messaging. Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025 After his low-effort performance, anchored by a gimmick that made the show feel like a telethon, viewers might be asking themselves the same thing. Judy Berman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025 The telethon benefits children with special needs in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Molly Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love: LA Strong telethon Saturday raised nearly $722,000 for the meal delivery organization. Marc Malkin, Variety, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for telethon

Word History

Etymology

tele- + -athon

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telethon was in 1949

Cite this Entry

“Telethon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telethon. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

telethon

noun
tele·​thon ˈtel-ə-ˌthän How to pronounce telethon (audio)
: a long television program usually to raise funds for a charity
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!