Meaning & use
BBC
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproperBritish
The British Broadcasting Corporation, the public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom.
Grammar: Used with 'the': the BBC. Takes a singular or plural verb: the BBC is/are.
Patterns
- the BBC
- on the BBC
- watch the BBC
I watch the BBC news every evening.
The BBC is funded by license fees.
She works for the BBC as a journalist.
abbreviationcountableBritish
A television or radio channel or program produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Grammar: Often used without 'the' when referring to a channel: 'on BBC One'.
Patterns
- on BBC
- BBC One
- BBC News
The match will be shown on BBC One.
I listened to it on BBC Radio 4.
BBC News is available online.
Common combinations
- BBC News
- BBC News reported the story first.
- watch the BBC
- Many people watch the BBC for its documentaries.
- on the BBC
- The interview will be on the BBC tonight.
- BBC One
- The comedy series is on BBC One.
Synonyms and how they differ
- the Beeb
- Informal British nickname for the BBC; use only in casual speech.
Commonly confused: BBC or CNN? BBC or NBC?
BBC vs CNN
CNN is an American news network, while the BBC is British and publicly funded.
BBC vs NBC
NBC is a major American commercial network, not the British public broadcaster.
Practice
What does 'BBC' stand for?
Choose one answer.
BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation, the UK's public service broadcaster. The other options are plausible-sounding but not the correct expansion.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “BBC”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.