telegram

1 of 2

noun

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram 

Southern also -grəm

: a telegraphic dispatch

telegram

2 of 2

verb

tele·​gram ˈte-lə-ˌgram 

telegrammed; telegramming

transitive verb

: telegraph

Examples of telegram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In April Hood County Commissioner Nannette Samuelson accused Coffman and other officials of misleading the public about plans for a power plant and data center, according to previous Star-telegram reporting. — Mary Ella Hastings july 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

One morning this past spring, Bielawski delivered a singing telegram to a woman getting off the graveyard shift at a Waffle House. — Bob Herman, STAT, 7 July 2026

The president addressed this firing with members of his Cabinet, and made his rationale known in letters and telegrams to key leaders in Congress. — William H. McRaven, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026

Lindsay, a liberal Republican, sent a congratulatory telegram and hosted the Knicks for a reception at the official mayoral residence, according to news coverage at the time. — Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for telegram

• abraham
• anagram
• cablegram
• cofferdam
• dendrogram
• diagram
• diaphragm
• epigram
• hexagram
• histogram
• hologram
• instagram

Kids Definition

telegram

noun

tele·​gram

ˈtel-ə-ˌgram

Southern also -grəm

: a message sent by telegraph