call letters

American  

plural noun

1. letters of the alphabet or such letters in combination with numbers for identifying a radio or television station, an amateur radio transmitting device, or the like.

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call letters British  

plural noun

1. the call sign of an American or Canadian radio station, esp that of a commercial broadcasting station

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Etymology

Origin of call letters

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Radio station DJs now are expected to say “Guaranteed Human,” as part of their hourly on-air disclosures, which include announcing the station’s call letters, as required by the Federal Communications Commission.

From Los Angeles Times

The full embrace of the Classical California name means the stations will no longer use their local call letters outside of legally mandated identifications given at the top of each hour.

From Los Angeles Times

In his late 20s, he was working as an engineer in Kansas City at a station owned by MacMillan Petroleum Co. — which managed to land the local call letters KMPC.

From Los Angeles Times

KTLA, KFWB, KTTV, KNX — you know the call letters of local radio and TV stations and probably have a jingle or two stuck in your head.

From Los Angeles Times

But federal regulations insist that they always identify themselves at the beginning of each hour by their call letters and the “city of license.”

From Los Angeles Times