Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

telly

American  
[tel-ee] / ˈtɛl i /

noun

British Informal.

plural

tellies

  1. television.

  2. a television receiving set.

telly British  
/ ˈtɛlɪ /

noun

  1. informal short for television

"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 telly

First recorded in 1935–40; tel(evision) + -y 2

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.

And the “Antiques Roadshow” version of the lottery—the old picture over the family telly that might be worth $200 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

"Suddenly you cry on the telly in front of 10 million people, you feel a lot more open."

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

“It’s crazy going to the Grammys and looking at all the famous people off the telly and just feeling very odd.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

He indicated to Rajan his next career move "won't be more telly", adding: "I think I'll step back from that now" and "I think I'll probably focus more on the podcast world".

From BBC • May 19, 2025

Her father, after what had happened in front of the telly that evening, was first on her list.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.