video

American  

[vid-ee-oh] / ˈvɪd iˌoʊ /

noun

1. a program, movie, or other visual media product featuring moving images, with or without audio, that is recorded and saved digitally or on videocassette: She used her phone to record a video of her baby's first steps.

   Let's stay at home and watch a video.

   She used her phone to record a video of her baby's first steps.

   I spent all morning watching videos of cats online.

2. Television.

   1. the elements of television, as in a program or script, pertaining to the transmission or reception of the image (distinguished from audio).

   2. the video part of a television broadcast.

3. Informal. videotape.

4. Informal. television.

   She is a star of stage and video.

5. music video.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the electronic apparatus for producing the television picture.

   video amplifier.

2. of or relating to television, especially the visual elements.

3. of or relating to videocassettes, VCRs, music videos, etc..

   a video shop.

4. pertaining to or employed in the transmission or reception of television pictures.

video British  

/ ˈvɪdɪˌəʊ /

adjective

1. relating to or employed in the transmission or reception of a televised image

2. of, concerned with, or operating at video frequencies

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noun

1. the visual elements of a television broadcast

2. a film recorded on a video cassette

3. short for video cassette video cassette recorder

4. an informal name for television

verb

1. to record (a television programme, etc) on a video cassette recorder

Etymology

Origin of video

First recorded in 1930–35; from Latin vidē(re) “to see” + -o, as in audio

Explanation

Video is a noun that refers to the recording or broadcasting of a moving image, like the funny video your friend took of you the first time you tried to skateboard. Video means a recorded image or movie, like a home video of your uncle's wedding or the video equipment a television station uses to make news stories. You can also call a movie you watch on your television or computer a video. A short film made to accompany a song? That's a music video. Video was first used in 1935 as a counterpart to audio which describes sound or music. It comes from the Latin word video: I see.

Example Sentences

“I’m about to get all my loans forgiven, and so are you,” says the woman in the video.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

“I suddenly thought, ‘What must have that have been like to be Mary and to have been publicly humiliated in that way?’” says Hadlow over a video call.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

After skittling tacklers as a 20-year-old at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Jonah Lomu was linked to the NFL, starred in his own video game and became famous around the world.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

When we did that video, it felt too over the top, “Oh, Big Brother is gonna come for you.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Some other people try to get me going with the video in homeroom, but I just laugh at the screen every time I see it.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• broadcast
• program
• television