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• TelePrompTer
  TelePrompTer

  a brand name for an off-camera device that displays a magnified script so that it is visible to the performers or speakers on a television program.
• Teleprompter
  Teleprompter

  noun

  an electronic television prompting device whereby a prepared script, unseen by the audience, is enlarged line by line for the speaker equivalent in Britain (and certain other countries) Autocue

TelePrompTer

American  

[tel-uh-promp-ter] / ˈtɛl əˌprɒmp tər /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for an off-camera device that displays a magnified script so that it is visible to the performers or speakers on a television program.

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Teleprompter British  

/ ˈtɛlɪˌprɒmptə /

noun

1. an electronic television prompting device whereby a prepared script, unseen by the audience, is enlarged line by line for the speaker equivalent in Britain (and certain other countries) Autocue

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Explanation

A teleprompter is a screen that allows someone to read a script while they're performing or speaking. Politicians often use teleprompters when they're giving televised speeches, rather than speaking off the cuff. When you think of a teleprompter, you may imagine a U.S. president delivering the State of the Union address from the Oval Office, reading a prepared speech in front of TV cameras. Other people use teleprompters, too, including actors on live television shows, newscasters, social media influencers, and even singers who want to make sure they don't flub the lyrics of a song. Teleprompter was originally a brand name, coined in 1951 from television and prompter.

Example Sentences

Rachel Maddow is teaching her to use a TelePrompTer, so far with mixed results.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2023

There was no TelePrompTer in sight, just a notepad on a lectern edged by pink Post-it Notes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2020

Despite a TelePrompTer hiccup at the start of the show, host Jimmy Fallon didn’t fail to deliver in his opening sequence at the Golden Globes.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2017

They claim that his only sins have been rhetorical, and such rhetoric should be forgiven because “he‘s not working off a TelePrompTer or a script fine tuned by a consultant and focus groups.”

From Slate • Nov. 11, 2016

I am not sure what speech is in the TelePrompTer tonight, but I hope we can talk about the State of the Union.

From State of the Union Address by Clinton, William Jefferson