transmission

American  

[trans-mish-uhn, tranz-] / trænsˈmɪʃ ən, trænz- /

noun

• transmissions
  plural

1. the act or process of transmitting.

   Synonyms:

   conveyance, passing, passage, transfer

2. the fact of being transmitted.

   Synonyms:

   conveyance, passing, passage, transfer

3. something that is transmitted.

4. Machinery.

   1. transference of force between machines or mechanisms, often with changes of torque and speed.

   2. a compact, enclosed unit of gears or the like for this purpose, as in an automobile.

5. Radio and Television. the broadcasting of electromagnetic waves from one location to another, as from a transmitter to a receiver.

6. Physics. transmittance.

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transmission British  

/ trænzˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of transmitting

2. something that is transmitted

3. the extent to which a body or medium transmits light, sound, or some other form of energy

4. the transference of motive force or power

5. a system of shafts, gears, torque converters, etc, that transmits power, esp the arrangement of such parts that transmits the power of the engine to the driving wheels of a motor vehicle

6. the act or process of sending a message, picture, or other information from one location to one or more other locations by means of radio waves, electrical signals, light signals, etc

7. a radio or television broadcast

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nontransmission
  noun
• pretransmission
  noun
• retransmission
  noun
• transmissibility
  noun
• transmissiveness
  noun
• transmissible
  adjective
• transmissive
  adjective
• untransmissive
  adjective
• transmissively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• transmissions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of transmission

1605–15; < Latin trānsmissiōn- (stem of trānsmissiō ) a sending across, equivalent to trānsmiss ( us ) (past participle of trānsmittere to send across) + -iōn- -ion. See trans-, mission

Explanation

Transmission is the act of transferring something from one spot to another, like a radio or TV broadcast, or a disease going from one person to another. The noun transmission comes from the Latin word transmissio, which means “sending over or across, passage.” The transmission of a message is the delivery of the message. Transmission can also be a communication sent out by radio or television, while the transmission of a disease is the passing of that virus or bacteria between people. A vehicle’s transmission is the part of the engine that uses the energy created by the burning fuel to make the axle turn.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transmission transmissions

The Morgan Stanley chart shows “the first indications of market transmission in selected commodities and company disclosures.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

"The disaster has damaged the production, transmission and distribution facilities of the Authority... resulting in disruption of electricity supply," it said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Feeding wild birds heightens the risk of disease transmission at feeding locations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Prysmian, an Italian maker of underground and submarine cables for power transmission, is a winner from the electrification push, and its shares are up 40% this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

On closer examination, it merely proves to reflect the ubiquitous role of geography in the transmission of human culture and technology.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

The observations covered frequencies from 1 to 9 gigahertz, a range suitable for detecting narrowband radio transmissions.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

The combination would integrate Dana’s powertrain, thermal and sealing technologies with Eaton Mobility’s commercial-vehicle transmissions, engine and emissions products, and advanced electrification capabilities, forming a company with approximately $11 billion in sales.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

According to Moody’s, the bank has tested quantum key distribution, a method leveraging quantum physics to secure data transmissions.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

MasTec is now a leading North American infrastructure and construction company, with 50% of its business from oil and natural-gas pipelines and 30% from high-voltage electric power transmissions, with just 25% from telecoms.

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026

Spurge said, “Thank you for the opportunity to explain, my lord. I was worried my feeble transmissions could not convey the whole complexity of the energy-making process.”

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

Related Words

• broadcast
• communication
• delivery
• gearbox