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telegraphese

American

[tel-i-gra-feez, -fees, tel-i-gra-feez, -fees] / ˈtɛl ɪ græˌfiz, -ˌfis, ˌtɛl ɪ græˈfiz, -ˈfis /

noun

a style of writing or speaking distinguished by the omissions, abbreviations, and combinations that are characteristic of telegrams, as in “ expect arrive six evening. ”

Etymology

Origin of telegraphese

First recorded in 1880–85; telegraph + -ese

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.

Today "telegraphese" - saying as much as possible in the fewest number of words - has a new home in the Twittersphere.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2013

Entitled Autobiography, the gaudy billboard includes a life history in telegraphese, his horoscope, and a skeletal portrait of himself composed from 13 X rays.

From Time Magazine Archive

Like the other Kiplinger letters, the first issue of Overseas Postscript was composed in punchy, prophetic telegraphese.

From Time Magazine Archive

Much of the novel's lunatic telegraphese was pure reportage.

From Time Magazine Archive

In feebler hands, it degenerates into what in London journalistic slang is known as "telegraphese."

From Studies in Early Victorian Literature by Harrison, Frederic

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023