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telecom

American  
[tel-i-kom] / ˈtɛl ɪˌkɒm /

noun

  1. telecommunications.

    The job entails an advanced understanding of telephony, and a graduate degree in telecom is preferred.

    1. a telecommunications company.

      Municipalities have no recourse since telecoms are regulated at the federal level.

    2. the telecommunications industry.

      Sometimes we underestimate how important telecom has become in our lives.


adjective

  1. of or relating to telecommunications.

    A competitive environment will benefit businesses and consumers by lowering the costs and improving the accessibility of telecom services.

telecom British  
/ ˈtɛlɪˌkɒm, ˈtɛlɪˌkɒmz /

noun

  1. (functioning as singular) short for telecommunications

"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 telecom

First recorded in 1950–55; by shortening

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.

Starlink and rival upstart Amazon Leo aim to disrupt the market by launching telecom satellite networks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

For businesses like Starlink and Amazon that are seeking to break into the telecom market, they are less expensive than building a terrestrial network from scratch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Top holdings include Hyundai Elevator; Spanish telecom operator Telefónica; and oil and gas conglomerate OMV.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Shares of Verizon are up 16% so far this year, although the telecom has badly lagged the market over the past five years thanks to intense competition and pricing pressure.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Unfortunately, the telecom companies weren’t paying close attention to the developing mismatch between demand and reality.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman