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telegram

1 of 2

noun

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce telegram (audio)
Southern also -grəm
: a telegraphic dispatch

telegram

2 of 2

verb

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce telegram (audio)
telegrammed; telegramming

Examples of telegram 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.
Noun
Dad sends a whole bunch of telegrams and keeps copies of them. Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025 National Archives The documents also include military reports about the search as well as memos, telegrams and newspaper clippings. CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 Files include military search reports, interagency memos, telegrams exchanged in the aftermath and a large amount of press clippings reflecting how quickly theories grew and spread. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025 Buttram said that her grandmother still possesses the Western Union telegram announcing her brother’s death on April, 8 1945, one month shy of the May 8, 1945 end of the war in Europe, known as VE, or Victory in Europe, Day. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for telegram

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telegram was circa 1852

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Cite this Entry

“Telegram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telegram. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

telegram

noun
tele·​gram
ˈtel-ə-ˌgram
Southern also -grəm
: a message sent by telegraph

More from Merriam-Webster on telegram

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