wireless
A noun referring to a radio receiver or the system of transmitting and receiving signals using electromagnetic waves instead of physical cables. In modern usage, it often serves as a synonym for wireless communication technology or Wi-Fi systems.
Examples
3 of 5My grandfather still prefers to listen to the news on the wireless every morning.
My grandfather still prefers to listen to the news on the wireless every morning.
The facility has implemented a high-speed wireless to ensure seamless connectivity for all staff.
The facility has implemented a high-speed wireless to ensure seamless connectivity for all staff.
Is the wireless down again? I can't get any signal in the kitchen.
Is the wireless down again? I can't get any signal in the kitchen.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Just look at the word: 'Wire' + 'less'. It literally means a device that functions with 'less' (no) wires.
Quick Quiz
Before the invention of television, most people received their news and entertainment via the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wireless
Examples
My grandfather still prefers to listen to the news on the wireless every morning.
everydayMy grandfather still prefers to listen to the news on the wireless every morning.
The facility has implemented a high-speed wireless to ensure seamless connectivity for all staff.
formalThe facility has implemented a high-speed wireless to ensure seamless connectivity for all staff.
Is the wireless down again? I can't get any signal in the kitchen.
informalIs the wireless down again? I can't get any signal in the kitchen.
The development of the wireless revolutionized maritime safety in the early twentieth century.
academicThe development of the wireless revolutionized maritime safety in the early twentieth century.
We are looking to invest in a more robust corporate wireless to handle the increased data traffic.
businessWe are looking to invest in a more robust corporate wireless to handle the increased data traffic.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
on the wireless
listening to the radio
wireless hotspot
a location providing internet via wireless
wireless operator
a person who operates a radio transmitter
Often Confused With
Wi-Fi is a specific type of local wireless networking, while 'wireless' is a broader term for any communication without wires, including radio.
Usage Notes
In British English, 'the wireless' is a traditional term for a radio set. In technical and international contexts, it refers to the medium or technology of untethered data transmission.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'wireless' as a verb; however, it should be used as a noun or an adjective (e.g., use 'send wirelessly' instead of 'to wireless something').
Memory Tip
Just look at the word: 'Wire' + 'less'. It literally means a device that functions with 'less' (no) wires.
Word Origin
Originates from the Old English 'wir' (metal thread) combined with the suffix '-less', gaining popularity in the late 1890s to describe radio telegraphy.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United Kingdom, 'the wireless' evokes a sense of nostalgia, referring to the era when families gathered around large radio sets for BBC broadcasts.
Quick Quiz
Before the invention of television, most people received their news and entertainment via the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wireless
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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