podcast

American  

[pod-kast, ‑-kahst] / ˈpɒdˌkæst, ‑ˌkɑst /

noun

1. a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer.

   Download or subscribe to daily, one-hour podcasts of our radio show.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to record and upload as a podcast.

   He podcasts once a week on various topics.

   She podcasts her lectures.

podcast British  

/ ˈpɒdˌkɑːst /

noun

1. an audio file similar to a radio broadcast, which can be downloaded and listened to on a computer, mp3 player, mobile phone, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to create such files and make them available for downloading

2. (tr) to make (music, interviews, etc) available using this format

Other Word Forms

• podcaster
  noun
• podcasting
  noun

Etymology

Origin of podcast

First recorded in 2000-05; iPod + (broad)cast

Explanation

A podcast is a show that you download from the internet and listen to whenever you want. It’s like getting a radio broadcast in a doggy bag. It has nothing to do with seedpods and everything to do with iPods. Podcasts are a lot like radio programs, except you can subscribe to a podcast, download it, and play it on a digital device, like a smartphone or a computer. It’s also very DIY friendly — you could podcast the funny conversations you and your friends have about movies, or a radio play put on at a local elementary school. The word podcast first appeared in 2004, from iPod and broadcast.

Example Sentences

Vox in recent months has been exploring a sale of New York magazine and Vox Media Podcast Network, some of the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The event will debut the Audiobook and Podcast Stage presented by Spotify.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Scotland Rugby Podcast: France 'biggest test in world rugby'

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Appearing on The Will Spencer Podcast in 2024, Carl acknowledged that the country would never be “ethnically” or “racially uniform,” which he called “manageable.”

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

Krysta Yang of the Nintendo-focused Kit and Krysta Podcast told AFP that a Switch 2 price increase "is not out of the question" but that Nintendo "would likely exhaust all other options" beforehand.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026