communication

[kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.

2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

3. something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.

4. a document or message imparting news, views, information, etc.

5. passage, or an opportunity or means of passage, between places.

6. communications,

   1. means of sending messages, orders, etc., including telephone, telegraph, radio, and television.

   2. routes and transportation for moving troops and supplies from a base to an area of operations.

7. Biology.

   1. activity by one organism that changes or has the potential to change the behavior of other organisms.

   2. transfer of information from one cell or molecule to another, as by chemical or electrical signals.

communication

/ kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of communicating; the imparting or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings

2. something communicated, such as a message, letter, or telephone call

3. 1. (usually plural; sometimes functioning as singular) the study of ways in which human beings communicate, including speech, gesture, telecommunication systems, publishing and broadcasting media, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      communication theory

4. a connecting route, passage, or link

5. (plural) military the system of routes and facilities by which forces, supplies, etc, are moved up to or within an area of operations

Other Word Forms

• communicational adjective
• noncommunication noun
• overcommunication noun
• precommunication noun
• self-communication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of communication¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English communicacioun, from Middle French, from Latin commūnicātiōn-, stem of commūnicātiō, equivalent to commūnicāt(us) ( communicate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

She anonymously texted the man's partner after sending the email to warn a response to the communication was required by the end of the day.

From BBC

The world has become a much smaller place because of digital communications and the improvement in communication.

From Los Angeles Times

"That failure in communication apparently is not their fault and I have to bear the brunt of that as a parent, which is £818 this year."

From BBC

The officers said they had intended to show the photograph to the force's communications department as an example of them engaging positively with the public, which they are encouraged to do.

From BBC

His pitch to the membership was to move away from the tried-and-tested, with a decisive shunt to the left and a more confrontational communication style.

From BBC

Related Words

• connection 
• contact 
• conversation 
• delivery 
• intelligence 
• link 
• transmission