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.

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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

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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

"I was in no doubt that it was a sentence that I felt had to be referred to the Court of Appeal," Lord Hermer told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

The Served podcast, hosted by former men's world number one Andy Roddick, claimed Williams would play with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko at Queen's.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

This is the sensibility of Las Culturistas, the podcast Yang and Rogers have hosted since 2016, before either of them was remotely famous.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, we kick off Emmy season with Carrie Preston, who plays an offbeat investigator in Robert and Michelle King’s “Columbo”-inspired comedy “Elsbeth.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

She timidly reminds Dad of her summer internship at an artsy podcast, which starts tomorrow in downtown Chicago.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller