radio silence

American  

[ray-dee-oh sahy-luhns] / ˈreɪ diˌoʊ ˈsaɪ ləns /

noun

1. a state or period of time in which radios are not transmitting signals: The week’s stormy weather has caused local radio silence.

   The planes were required to maintain radio silence until their mission was accomplished.

   The week’s stormy weather has caused local radio silence.

2. a period of time in which a person or organization is not communicating as usual.

   Sorry for the radio silence, but from now on my blog posts will be more regular.

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Other Word Forms

• radio silent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of radio silence

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radio silence

She said: "MPs across the Solent region were scrambling for reliable information with complete radio silence from the Home Office. As a result we weren't in a position to calm fear and tension."

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

She spent the next few hours calling every number and email she had from the exchange but got radio silence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Such dry spells have marked singer-songwriters like Fiona Apple and Lorde, who throughout their careers have sustained several years-long periods of radio silence between albums.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025

Neri and I usually text and talk all day, but with Brad Pitt there, it’s like radio silence from 10 in the morning to 10 at night; she doesn’t respond.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

“Maintain radio silence, except in emergencies,” ordered Kelp.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer