Meaning & use

telegram

noun·Academic

A short written message sent quickly over a distance using telegraph technology, common before telephones were widespread.

See it in a sentence

He received a telegram announcing his brother's safe arrival overseas.

During the war, families dreaded telegrams that might carry bad news.

A note on using this word

Largely a historical term now, since telegraph services have been replaced by phone calls, texts, and email.

Words with a similar meaning

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