television

noun

tele·​vi·​sion ˈte-lə-ˌvi-zhən 

 especially British  ˌte-lə-ˈvi-

often attributive

1

: an electronic system of transmitting transient images of fixed or moving objects together with sound over a wire or through space by apparatus that converts light and sound into electrical waves and reconverts them into visible light rays and audible sound

2

: a television receiving set

3

a

: the television broadcasting industry

b

: television as a medium of communication

c

: programming distributed over the Internet that is designed to be viewed in the same format as broadcast television

A couple of couch companions watching TV on tablets might not see the same thing any more, even when watching the same shows. Ad personalization—routine for most of the Web—has come to streaming television.

—Donna Howell

The quarter was the 10th anniversary of Netflix's streaming service, which began with the vision that internet television would ultimately replace traditional television.

—Emily Steel

Synonyms

• boob tube
• box
• idiot box
• telly [chiefly British]
• tube
• TV

Examples of television in a Sentence

people who turn on the television the minute they walk in the door

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1973, Ebert hosted a series of Ingmar Bergman films on television, which scored an Emmy nomination. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023

The brand has previously drawn scrutiny over claims in its advertising across talk radio, television and social media. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2023

Up in the main salon, the space is designed for kicking back, relaxing, and watching television. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 17 Nov. 2023

The música Mexicana artists’ relationship was a bit rocky once the song caught fire, helping propel Peso Pluma to become the first Mexican act to perform on late night television in the United States — sans Eslabon. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

While some fans of the franchise are aware of this dark secret, this bizarre two hours of television still remains relatively unknown among the general public. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023

Humphries jumped in to assist with the search, but that didn’t bring any solace to the television personality. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023

Thanksgiving used to be about being thankful and just being happy to have your health and your family, but now, people are trying to kill each other for a flat-screen television. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2023

On Thursday, Fergie spoke about her recent breast cancer diagnosis for the first time on television during an appearance on the U.K. talk show Loose Women. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

French télévision, from télé- tele- + vision vision

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing television

• community antenna television
• on (the) television
• educational television
• satellite television
• reality TV/television
• television set
• cable television
• pre-television

• community antenna television
• on (the) television
• educational television
• satellite television
• reality TV/television
• television set
• cable television
• pre-television

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Kids Definition

television

noun

tele·​vi·​sion ˈtel-ə-ˌvizh-ən 

1

: an electronic system of transmitting images with sound over a wire or through space by devices that change light and sound into electrical waves and then change these back into light and sound

2

: a television receiving set

3

: the television broadcasting industry