telegram
Americannoun
verb (used with or without object)
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of telegram
Explanation
A telegram is a message sent by a telegraph, which is also called a wire. Over time, there have been many means of communicating, such as messenger pigeon, telephone, text message, letter, and email. Another is the telegram, which is a message sent by a telegraph. People often said a telegram was sent "by wire" because the sender and receiver of telegrams were connected by a wire. The electric telegraph has been around since the late 1800's. In the Civil War, important information was sent by telegram, which was the speediest means of communication.
Vocabulary lists containing telegram
Write On!: Graph and Gram
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Far and Away: Tele
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Red Umbrella
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But in his posts on the Telegram messaging app in April, Saldo does not appear to specifically mention the humanitarian situation at all.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Levin, who runs a Telegram channel focused on military analysis, said that in recent weeks multiple Israeli reservists and officers had reached out to him for help with FPVs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
On local Telegram chat groups, people shared photos of oil slicks in the sea, black puddles on the road and stray animals covered in oily droplets.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
“The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult,” the group said on its Telegram channel announcing the retreat from the settlement.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Clutter-English vows given in Saturday ceremony: that headline, appearing on the social page of the Garden City Telegram for November 23, surprised many of its readers.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
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.
