transmit

verb

trans·​mit tran(t)s-ˈmit  tranz- 

transmitted; transmitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to send or convey from one person or place to another : forward

b

: to cause or allow to spread: such as

(1)

: to convey by or as if by inheritance or heredity : hand down

(2)

: to convey (infection) abroad or to another

2

a(1)

: to cause (something, such as light or force) to pass or be conveyed through space or a medium

(2)

: to admit the passage of : conduct

glass transmits light

b

: to send out (a signal) either by radio waves or over a wire

intransitive verb

: to send out a signal either by radio waves or over a wire

transmittable

tran(t)s-ˈmi-tə-bəl 

tranz-

adjective

transmittal

tran(t)s-ˈmi-tᵊl 

tranz-

noun

Synonyms of transmit

• spread
• convey
• give
• communicate
• disseminate
• propagate
• impart

Examples of transmit in a Sentence

The technology allows data to be transmitted by cellular phones.

transmitting and receiving radio signals

The radio transmits on two different frequencies.

the different ways that people transmit their values

The disease is transmitted by sexual contact.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Congolese authorities declared a fresh Ebola outbreak May 15 after the disease had been transmitting for weeks without official detection, according to the World Health Organization. — Jean-Yves Kamale, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Before a player becomes aware of a tennis ball hurtling across the court, light reflected from its surface has to be detected by their eyes’ retinas, converted into electrical signals, then transmitted along the optic nerves to the brain. — Michelle Spear, Scientific American, 11 July 2026

Legionnaires’ disease is also not transmitted person-to-person. — ABC News, 11 July 2026

This is the army’s effort to modernize how battlefield information is collected, transmitted, and acted upon. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English transmitten, from Latin transmittere, from trans- + mittere to send

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for transmit

• acquit
• admit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit

Kids Definition

transmit

verb

trans·​mit tran(t)s-ˈmit  tranz- 

transmitted; transmitting

1

a

: to transfer from one person or place to another

b

: to pass on by or as if by inheritance

c

: to cause or allow to spread abroad or to another

transmit a disease

2

a

: to pass or cause to pass through space or a material : allow the passage of

b

: to send a signal by radio waves or over a wire

transmittable

-ˈmit-ə-bəl 

adjective

transmittal

-ˈmit-ᵊl 

noun

Etymology

Middle English transmitten "to send to another person or place," from Latin transmittere (same meaning), from trans- "across, to the other side" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit

Medical Definition

transmit

transitive verb

trans·​mit tran(t)s-ˈmit  tranz- 

transmitted; transmitting

: to pass, transfer, or convey from one person or place to another: as

a

: to pass or convey by heredity

transmit a genetic abnormality

b

: to convey (infection) abroad or to another

mosquitoes transmit malaria

c

: to cause (energy) to be conveyed through space or a medium

substances that transmit nerve impulses

Legal Definition

transmit

transitive verb

trans·​mit tranz-ˈmit, trans- 

transmitted; transmitting

1

: to send or convey from one person or place to another

2

: to transfer especially by inheritance

transmittable

-ˈmi-tə-bəl 

adjective

transmittal

-ˈmit-ᵊl 

noun