communication

[kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.

2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

3. something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.

4. a document or message imparting news, views, information, etc.

5. passage, or an opportunity or means of passage, between places.

6. communications,

   1. means of sending messages, orders, etc., including telephone, telegraph, radio, and television.

   2. routes and transportation for moving troops and supplies from a base to an area of operations.

7. Biology.

   1. activity by one organism that changes or has the potential to change the behavior of other organisms.

   2. transfer of information from one cell or molecule to another, as by chemical or electrical signals.

communication

/ kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of communicating; the imparting or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings

2. something communicated, such as a message, letter, or telephone call

3. 1. (usually plural; sometimes functioning as singular) the study of ways in which human beings communicate, including speech, gesture, telecommunication systems, publishing and broadcasting media, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      communication theory

4. a connecting route, passage, or link

5. (plural) military the system of routes and facilities by which forces, supplies, etc, are moved up to or within an area of operations

Other Word Forms

• communicational adjective
• noncommunication noun
• overcommunication noun
• precommunication noun
• self-communication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of communication¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English communicacioun, from Middle French, from Latin commūnicātiōn-, stem of commūnicātiō, equivalent to commūnicāt(us) ( communicate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Since then, neither the White House or Kremlin have public confirmed any communications between the two.

Read more on BBC

FBI agents said in court filings that they found classified documents, including some that referenced weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. mission to the United Nations and records related to the U.S. government’s strategic communications.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Security officials at the time said the case was a slam dunk, alluding to reams of compromising communications between the two men.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The site is close to fibre optic cables carrying communications to and from financial institutions in the City of London.

Read more on BBC

It’s an industrial services provider whose clients include utilities, oil-and-gas companies, and communications providers.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• connection 
• contact 
• conversation 
• delivery 
• intelligence 
• link 
• transmission