Meaning & use
telecommunications
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The sending of information such as speech, text or data over long distances by cable, radio or satellite.
Grammar: Usually treated as a singular, uncountable subject: telecommunications has changed.
Patterns
- telecommunications equipment
- work in telecommunications
Telecommunications has changed how families stay in touch.
Fiber cables are the backbone of modern telecommunications.
The storm cut telecommunications across the whole island.
noununcountablebusiness
The industry or business sector that provides these services.
Grammar: Often used as a modifier: a telecommunications company.
Patterns
- the telecommunications sector
She studied engineering and entered telecommunications.
The telecommunications sector employs thousands of people here.
A new law will regulate telecommunications more strictly.
Common combinations
- telecommunications network
- The telecommunications network was restored by evening.
- telecommunications company
- A telecommunications company installed the cable.
- telecommunications satellite
- The telecommunications satellite was launched on Monday.
- telecommunications engineer
- My cousin is a telecommunications engineer.
- telecommunications regulator
- The telecommunications regulator fined the firm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- telecom
- Telecom is the shorter, more casual business form of the same word.
- communications
- Communications is broader and can include any kind of messaging, not only distant electronic transmission.
- networking
- Networking in this sense is about linking computers, whereas telecommunications covers voice and signals generally.
Word family
- telecommunicate verb
- to communicate over a distance
- telecom noun
- short form
- communicate verb
- to share information
- communication noun
- the act of sharing information
Commonly confused: telecommunications or telecommuting?
telecommunications vs telecommuting
Telecommuting is working from home via a connection; telecommunications is the technology and industry behind communication.
Practice
Radio, satellites and undersea cables are all examples of ____ technology.
Choose one answer.
Telecommunications covers technologies that transmit information over distance. Television is only one use, and teleportation is fictional.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “telecommunications”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.