transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmi-shən  tranz- 

1

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting

transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse

2

: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations

also : the act or process of transmitting by radio or television

3

: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the driveshaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a live axle

also : the speed-changing gears in such an assembly

4

: something that is transmitted : message

transmissive

tran(t)s-ˈmi-siv 

ˌtranz-

adjective

transmissivity

ˌtran(t)s-(ˌ)mi-ˈsi-və-tē 

ˌtranz-

noun

Did you know?

Since trans- means "across", it's not hard to see the meaning of transmission. Disease transmission occurs when an infection passes from one living thing to another. TV signal transmission can be interrupted by tree leaves, including moving leaves and branches during a storm. Your car's transmission transmits the engine's power to the axle, changing the gears to keep the engine working with maximum efficiency at various speeds.

Examples of transmission in a Sentence

The equipment is used for the transmission of television signals.

We are receiving a live transmission from the scene of the accident.

the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next

My car has a manual transmission.

This car comes with automatic transmission.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bell also said that the agency, which sets infectious disease reporting requirements, hasn’t considered adding hospitalizations to the list because the primary purpose of public health surveillance is to understand disease transmission, frequency and distribution — not to track complications. —Jennifer Berry Hawes, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026

Edison’s aging transmission lines probably sparked the January 2025 fire that devastated west Altadena, a historically Black community of 1960s middle-class homebuyers. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026

Pacific Gas & Electric ran the facility for decades and maintains nearby transmission and distribution equipment — which Whittlesey said also appeared damaged. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026

It is joined by Fort Worth restaurateur Tim Love’s company, Love Style Corporation, electric transmission utility company Oncor, and EMF Panther Island, LLC, which owns the Encore Apartment building. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin transmission-, transmissio, from transmittere to transmit

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transmission

• automatic transmission
• community transmission
• manual transmission

Rhymes for transmission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən  tranz- 

1

: an act, process, or example of transmitting

2

: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations

3

: the gears by which the power is transmitted from the engine to the axle that gives motion to a motor vehicle

4

: something transmitted

Medical Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən  tranz- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting

transmission of HIV

synaptic transmission

Legal Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tranz-ˈmi-shən, trans- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting