radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone and satellite transmissions) or radar signals

Examples of radio frequency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

SpaceX has applied to regulators to lower the altitude of its satellites and use a wider range of radio frequencies, which is likely to be opposed. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Drones are typically detected by their noise or the radio frequency (RF) an operator uses to pilot the craft. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

This redundant approach, which integrates both commercial and public safety frequencies, marks a significant improvement over systems that rely solely on traditional public safety radio frequencies (RF) such as PS 700/800MHz and UHF/VHF using land mobile radio (LMR) technology. —Julie Song, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Behind the scenes Qorvo is a global semiconductor company that specializes in manufacturing radio frequency (RF) chips for applications across mobile devices, wireless infrastructure, aerospace and defense, and other end markets. —Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for radio frequency

• multifrequency
• infrequency

Kids Definition

radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies between about 3 kilohertz and 300 gigahertz that are used especially in radio and television transmission and in radar

Medical Definition

radio frequency

noun

: any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in a range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone transmissions) or radar signals

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

radio-frequency waves