Meaning & use
tele shopping
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The activity of buying goods that you see advertised on television, usually by phoning or going online to order them.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it takes a singular verb: tele shopping is popular. Don't say 'a tele shopping' or 'tele shoppings'.
Patterns
- do tele shopping
- tele shopping channel
- order something by tele shopping
My grandmother does all her gift buying by tele shopping.
Tele shopping became popular in the 1980s when cable channels started selling products live.
The company moved from tele shopping to a website because fewer people were watching at night.
noununcountablebusiness
The business or industry of selling products to viewers during television programs or dedicated channels.
Grammar: Also uncountable and often used before another noun: tele shopping industry, tele shopping network.
Patterns
- the tele shopping industry
- work in tele shopping
- a tele shopping network
She got a job in tele shopping after years of working in department stores.
The tele shopping industry relies on repeat customers who trust the presenters.
Regulators in several countries keep a close watch on tele shopping to protect buyers.
Common combinations
- do tele shopping
- Many older viewers prefer to do tele shopping rather than drive to a mall.
- tele shopping channel
- That tele shopping channel sells kitchen gadgets all night long.
- tele shopping network
- The tele shopping network hired new hosts for its morning show.
- tele shopping industry
- The tele shopping industry grew quickly as more households got cable TV.
- order by tele shopping
- You can order by tele shopping and pay when the parcel arrives.
Synonyms and how they differ
- home shopping
- A wider term that covers buying from TV, catalogs, or the internet, so it is broader than tele shopping.
- teleshopping
- The same idea written as one word; some companies use it as a brand name, so it can sound more commercial.
Word family
- teleshop verb
- To buy things through a television shopping service; rare and mainly used in business writing.
- teleshopper noun
- A person who regularly buys goods by tele shopping.
Commonly confused: tele shopping or online shopping? tele shopping or window shopping?
tele shopping vs online shopping
Online shopping happens on the internet, while tele shopping happens through television programs, even if you later order by phone or computer.
tele shopping vs window shopping
Window shopping means looking at goods without buying anything, but tele shopping means actually buying them.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'tele shopping' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Tele shopping' is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb and no article: 'She bought the blender through tele shopping' is correct. Option A wrongly adds 'a', B uses a plural verb, and D invents a verb form 'tele shoppings'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tele shopping”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.