telegram

[ tel-i-gram ]

noun

1. a message or communication sent by telegraph; a telegraphic dispatch.

verb (used with or without object)

, tel·e·grammed, tel·e·gram·ming.

1. to telegraph.

telegram

/ ˈtɛlɪˌɡræm; ˌtɛlɪɡrəˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a communication transmitted by telegraph See also cable Telemessage

Derived Forms

• telegrammatic, adjective

Other Words From

• tele·grammic tel·e·gram·ma·tic [tel-i-gr, uh, -, mat, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of telegram¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; tele- ¹ + -gram ¹

Example Sentences

She talked her father into sending a telegram asking if everything was all right.

From Science News

The telegram Orlowski’s parents received erroneously notified them of their son’s death, something Evans says deeply upset the family.

From Time

Roughly 750 of these telegrams found their way into the hands of Whitelaw Reid, the Tribune’s editor.

From Washington Post

The most shocking discovery was that these telegrams originated from the Democratic Party headquarters at 15 Gramercy Park, New York — which also happened to be Tilden’s home address.

From Washington Post

The modern US presidential concession call, in which the losing candidate reaches out to the winner to say “Hey, it’s yours, good luck,” started in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan sent William McKinley a well-wishing telegram.

From Quartz

Inquiries will be accepted only via Western Union telegram or rotary phone.

From The Daily Beast

She begged their father to contact him, refusing to relent until he sent an inquiring telegram.

From The Daily Beast

I think the pendulum has swung back on that because of books like The Blood Telegram.

From The Daily Beast

I sent a telegram to the Rabbi in Damascus asking if he needed religious books and prepaid [for his response].

From The Daily Beast

She told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Tuesday that Davis “did what she needed to do for her daughters.”

From The Daily Beast

My No. 4239 addressed to Maxwell and repeated to you was sent before receiving your telegram under reply.

From Project Gutenberg

Hilda reached to take the offered telegram, but her hand wavered around it instead of seizing it.

From Project Gutenberg

Never again would she ignore an urgent telegram, though she did not believe that this telegram had any real importance.

From Project Gutenberg

But a knock at the door interrupted them; the discreet Capt entered, bearing a telegram upon a salver.

From Project Gutenberg

As already reported in my telegram, fire from the Asiatic shore is at times troublesome, but I am taking steps to deal with it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• summons
• telegraph