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Synonyms

public-address system

American  
[puhb-lik-uh-dres] / ˈpʌb lɪk əˈdrɛs /

noun

  1. a combination of electronic devices that makes sound audible via loudspeakers to many people, as in an auditorium or out of doors.


public-address system British  

noun

  1. Sometimes shortened to: PA system.  a system of one or more microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers for increasing the sound level of speech or music, used in auditoriums, public gatherings, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of public-address system

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

See Examples For:

Pop music blared from the public-address system through the entire game, even when pitches were about to be thrown.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 19, 2024

These needed to be kept at a distance from exploding pyrotechnics and angled away from the blare of the stadium’s public-address system.

From New York Times Dec. 2, 2023

“These are the true Yankees fans right here,” Trevino said in an interview broadcast on the Yankee Stadium public-address system, working the crowd on a cool and rainy night.

From Washington Times May 4, 2023

On Friday night, before a game against St. Louis, the Red Sox recognized Drago on the videoboard and a tribute was read over the public-address system.

From Seattle Times Jun. 23, 2022

The public-address system blared the usual Monday- morning announcements about bake sales and soccer practice.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

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