telegraphic

[tel-i-graf-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to the telegraph.

2. concise, clipped, or elliptical in style.

   telegraphic speech.

Other Word Forms

• telegraphically adverb
• nontelegraphic adjective
• pretelegraphic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of telegraphic¹

First recorded in 1785–95; telegraph + -ic

Example Sentences

“I prefer the Madonna as mother, our mother, and not a woman who’s the head of a telegraphic office, who sends a message every day at a certain time,” Francis told reporters in 2017.

Read more on Seattle Times

Yeah, Winslow is a guy who writes hard-boiled crime fiction full of leggy, tough-talking dolls and guys with $70,000 watches and short, telegraphic sentences.

Read more on Salon

As a grad student, Blackburn began trying her hand at this telegraphic style of storytelling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Their motions and poses are often inscrutable, but their faces are sometimes telegraphic, contorting into open-mouthed expressions of amusement or agony as readable as the masks of comedy and tragedy.

Read more on New York Times

It could also communicate with other instruments using telegraphic signals.

Read more on Scientific American