remote control

American  

noun

remote controls plural

1. control of the operation or performance of an apparatus from a distance, as the control of a guided missile by radio signals.

2. Also called remote.  a device used to control the operation of an apparatus or machine, as a television set, from a distance.

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remote control British  

noun

1. control of a system or activity by a person at a different place, usually by means of radio or ultrasonic signals or by electrical signals transmitted by wire

2. Also:: remote.  a hand-held device that enables remote control of a system or appliance

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• remote-control
  adjective
• remote-controlled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• remote controls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of remote control

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

remote control

In other words, many are either run by a human with a remote control or stuck doing one narrow task.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

By combining an intuitive multitouch interface with always-on internet connectivity, the smartphone became a universal remote control for modern life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

This year, rules were “optimized,” according to the Beijing Town website, with entries running either by autonomous navigation or remote control.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

When he said he needed to take remote control of my computer, I knew I was talking to scammers, not PayPal.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 25, 2026

“Ha-ha,” I say, heading for the remote control and the couch.

From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan