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

Project Lifesaver’s unique approach includes drones and radio frequency transmitters, significantly improving the efficiency and speed of rescue operations. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025

But with satellite constellations, there are now potentially thousands of sources of radio frequency interference directly above the telescopes. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025

The term spectrum rights refers to using part of the radio frequency spectrum for transmitting data to and from space. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025

The pod awaiting pickup communicates with the drone via a set of radio frequency beacons which assists the aircraft in triangulating the pod's position. —Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 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