channel

noun

chan·​nel ˈcha-nᵊl 

1

a

: the bed where a natural stream of water runs

b

: the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait

c

: a strait or narrow sea between two close landmasses

crossed the English Channel

d

: a means of communication or expression: such as

(1)

: a path along which information (such as data or music) in the form of an electrical signal passes

(2)

channels plural : a fixed or official course of communication

went through established military channels with his grievances

e

: a way, course, or direction of thought or action

new channels of exploration

f

: a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication

g

: channeler

h

: an account on an online media sharing or streaming service from which one can make media content (such as videos) available to others using the service

The video was posted Saturday and has been viewed thousands of times since being picked up by YouTube channels devoted to UFOs and unsolved mysteries …

—Mark Price

The Washington Post and Bloomberg covered the Russia-United States summit live on their Twitch channels.

—Alexandra Arriaga

2

a

: a usually tubular enclosed passage : conduit

the poison channel in a snake's fangs

b

: a passage created in a selectively permeable cell membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins

also : the proteins of such a passage compare ion channel

3

: a long gutter, groove, or furrow

a road channel

4

: a metal bar of flattened U-shaped section

Synonyms of channel

• canal
• aqueduct

Examples of channel in a Sentence

water was drained from the swamp through a specially constructed channel

the world record for swimming the channel between France and Great Britain

you need to make arrangements through the proper channels

had to replace the main water channel

the channel went into a trance and began speaking in what was purported to be the voice of the deceased woman

Recent Examples on the Web

The baseball game that Huang will be attending has been confirmed by the team, while the TV channel confirmed his upcoming appearance on the variety show. —Justina Lee,lisa Kim, CNBC, 5 June 2026

But, of course, the spotlight is on deep discounts and a focus on the marketplace’s Brand+ channel where shoppers can find trusted, global brands (with official product authentication). —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 June 2026

His blood sloshed through the device’s tiny channels and pressed against its protein snares. —Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2026

For Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, reopening transit would revive a revenue channel for Lukashenko through countries already worried about their borders with Belarus and Russia. —Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chanel, from Anglo-French, from Latin canalis channel — more at canal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing channel

• back channel
• calcium channel blocker
• channel bass
• channel catfish
• channel-hopping
• channel surfing
• inter-channel
• ion channel

Rhymes for channel

• annal
• annul
• cannel
• flannel
• panel
• pannel
• multichannel
• perianal

Kids Definition

channel

1 of 2 noun

chan·​nel ˈchan-ᵊl 

1

: the bed of a stream

2

: the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait

3

: a strait or a narrow sea between two close large areas of land

the English Channel

4

: a way of passing something along

negotiating through diplomatic channels

5

: a group of frequencies close enough in value for a single radio or television communication

6

: a closed passage through which something flows

7

: a long gutter, groove, or track

channel

2 of 2 verb

channeled or channelled; channeling or channelling

1

: to form a channel in

2

: to direct into or through a channel

Medical Definition

channel

noun

chan·​nel ˈchan-ᵊl 

1

: a usually tubular enclosed passage

2

a

: a passage created in a selectively permeable membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins see ion channel

b

: a protein or cluster of proteins that functions as a channel see calcium channel blocker