transceiver

American  

[tran-see-ver] / trænˈsi vər /

noun

Radio.

1. a transmitter and receiver combined in one unit.

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transceiver British  

/ trænˈsiːvə /

noun

1. a device which transmits and receives radio or electronic signals

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Etymology

Origin of transceiver

First recorded in 1935–40; trans(mitter) + (re)ceiver

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Explanation

A transceiver is a device that both transmits and receives signals within a single unit. Transceivers are core components in things like radios, cell phones, and Wi-Fi routers, which simultaneously send and pull in data. Traditionally, communication required two separate machines: a transmitter to send data, and a receiver to catch it. A transceiver combines these two functions into one piece of equipment, with shared internal circuitry to handle both functions. While best known for use in radios, walkie-talkies, and mobile phones, transceivers are also used in things like fiber-optic cables, which send and receive pulses of light. By performing both tasks, a transceiver turns a one-way broadcast into a two-way conversation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transceiver

LightCounting’s reason is that almost every transceiver component is now scarce and customers have started double ordering, which inflates backlogs.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Coherent’s CEO joined President Trump’s China trip, and the company shipped its first 6-inch fab transceiver, improving margins.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

As one of China’s leading optical transceiver and component suppliers, the company is well supported by its integrated device manufacturer model amid component shortages, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Several, he says, didn't have safety kits, such as a transceiver to reveal their location or a shovel.

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2026

The radio is a steel- cased two-way transceiver with a 1.6-meter band antenna.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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