telephonic

American

[tel-uh-fon-ik] / ˌtɛl əˈfɒn ɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or happening by means of a telephone system.
carrying sound to a distance by artificial means.

Other Word Forms

nontelephonic adjective
nontelephonically adverb
pretelephonic adjective
telephonically adverb

Etymology

Origin of telephonic

First recorded in 1825–35; tele- ¹ + -phone + -ic

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.

The discovery followed an investigation into anonymous "telephonic threats" directed at three US government officials this spring, unnamed officials told the New York Times.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2025

Reedy said he learned during a telephonic hearing that there would be no charges against him or De León.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2023

FTC attorney James Weingarten, speaking in a brief telephonic pretrial hearing, said there were no "substantive" settlement discussions between the two sides under way.

From Reuters • Jan. 3, 2023

“I attempted to call IRS customer service, but after spending 10 minutes navigating their telephonic menu, I got a notice that they aren’t accepting any more calls,” emailed one reader.

From Washington Post • Jun. 24, 2022

Hence, practically the moment Kyril Montana’s unmarked Galaxie cruised unobtrusively into Milagro, it appeared on the town’s telephonic radar screen, and its progress was tracked with interest by many of the town’s inhabitants.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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