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.

---

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

---

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

In a recent podcast, he said he instructed his government bond managers to swap their current holdings for the lowest-coupon-rate equivalents, even though the chance of such a forced swap is remote.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Sitting in first class on a flight in 2023, however, Monique, who hosts a podcast about reality-TV news, ended up the victim of some Bravo-like drama herself.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

OpenAI recently went as far as purchasing the podcast TBPN, which is known in part for its tech-booster vibe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“The mystique isn’t threatened by having more eyeballs on it,” said Bo McBrayer, co-host of the BettingPros golf podcast.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

“It was addressed to me at the podcast office downtown. I didn’t tell anyone, but that’s another reason why I was so upset about losing the internship. I knew I wouldn’t hear from Mom again.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller