shortwave

noun

short·​wave ˈshȯrt-ˌwāv 

often attributive

1

: a radio wave having a wavelength between 10 and 100 meters

2

: a radio transmitter or receiver using shortwaves

3

: electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength equal to or less than that of visible light

Examples of shortwave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a shortwave trough sweeps through later in the day on Thursday, some rain will move in and bring a little relief to the region during the afternoon hours. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Anyone with a shortwave radio could hear him. —Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026

At one point in the show, another uninfected human scanning through the dial on a shortwave radio notices some activity on a particular frequency: 8,613 kHz. —Rhett Allain, Wired News, 16 Jan. 2026

Snow is expected to taper off Monday evening as the upper-level shortwaves move out of the area, according to the National Weather service. —Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shortwave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• aftershave
• architrave

Kids Definition

shortwave

noun

short·​wave ˈshȯrt-ˈwāv 

: a radio wave with a wavelength between 10 and 100 meters

Medical Definition

shortwave

noun

short·​wave ˈshȯrt-ˈwāv 

1

: a radio wave having a wavelength between 10 and 100 meters

2

: electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength equal to or less than that of visible light