bulletin
Americannoun
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a brief account or statement, as of news or events, issued for the information of the public.
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Journalism.
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a brief, prominently featured newspaper account, based upon information received just before the edition went to press.
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a similar brief account broadcast over radio or television pending further information.
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a pamphlet or monograph summarizing the past achievements, existing conditions, and future plans of a corporation, educational institution, government agency, etc., especially one cataloging the classes taught at a college or university.
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an official, special, or scholarly periodical, as of a learned society.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an official statement on a matter of public interest, such as the illness of a public figure
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a broadcast summary of the news
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a periodical publication of an association, etc
verb
Etymology
Origin of bulletin
1645–55; < French, perhaps < Italian bullettino, equivalent to bullett ( a ) ( bulla bull 3 + -etta -ette ) + -ino -ine 2
Explanation
A brief news report or statement that's written or spoken is a bulletin. A TV reporter might read a bulletin announcing the winner of a presidential election, for example. You're most likely to hear a bulletin on the radio or television, usually in the form of a news update. A bulletin can also be a written or emailed report or newsletter that gives you brief information. A bulletin board is a message board that has such bulletins pinned to it. The root of bulletin is the Italian bulletta, "document" or "voting slip."
Vocabulary lists containing bulletin
List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Five Eyes bulletin says Chinese agents post fake job adverts online before sifting through applicants' CVs to identify candidates worth exploiting.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
Just after 8:30 p.m., a Cal Fire bulletin described the fire as 25% contained, with limited possibility of further spread.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
There were bulletin boards, giant Post-It notes, timelines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
This relative insulation was highlighted in the daily market bulletin published by the well-regarded, veteran strategist David Rosenberg, the founder and president of Rosenberg Research.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
He looked all over the bulletin board for a picture of Dumbo, or Bambi, or Willy Wonka.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.