communications satellite

American  

noun

1. an artificial earth satellite that facilitates communications, as radio, television, and telephone transmissions, by means of the reflection or the amplification and retransmission of signals between stations on earth or in space.

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communications satellite British  

noun

1. an artificial satellite used to relay radio, television, and telephone signals around the earth, usually in geostationary orbit

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Etymology

Origin of communications satellite

First recorded in 1960–65