communication
noun
com·mu·ni·ca·tion
| \ kə-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkā-shən
\
\
Definition of communication
1a
: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior
the function of pheromones in insect communication
also
: exchange of information
b
: personal rapport
a lack of communication between old and young persons
2a
: information communicated : information transmitted or conveyed
b
: a verbal or written message
The captain received an important communication.
3 communications plural
a
: a system (as of telephones or computers) for transmitting or exchanging information
wireless electronic communications
b
: a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles
c
: personnel engaged in communicating : personnel engaged in transmitting or exchanging information
4 communications plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech)
b
: the technology of the transmission of information (as by print or telecommunication)
5
: an act or instance of transmitting
the communication of disease
6
anatomy
: a connection between bodily parts
Surprisingly little is known about the communication between the alveolar and terminal bronchiolar surfaces…— Richard C. Boucher
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Other Words from communication
communicational
\ kə-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkā-shnəl
, -shə-nᵊl \
adjective
, -shə-nᵊl \
adjective
Examples of communication in a Sentence
Communication between children in the class was not prohibited but was afforded time slots …
— Jonathan Kozol, Harper's, September 2005
It's not an oral communication. It's body language, eye contact, the grinning, the little signals that go on between people.
— Keith Richards, quoted in Rolling Stone, 14-28 July 1994
If the book is good and even if one is reading to oneself, what is happening is a very special sort of social event, a communication between writer and reader …
— Walker Percy, "Another Message In The Bottle,"
in Signposts in a Strange Land, 1991
This is a secret and confidential communication which I am trusting you to answer on the sly.
— Alexander Woollcott, letter, 20 Oct. 1934
Whom else had she to open her heart to? If she did not need counsel, she must need the comfort of communication.
— Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
You don't talk to him, he talks at you. You scream and shout at each other, but there's no communication.
— Zadie Smith, White Teeth
He is studying insect communication.
There was a breakdown in communication between members of the group.
television and other means of mass communication
Communications is a growing industry.
He majored in communications in college.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Stacey Manley, the East Bay Community Foundation’s vice president of communications, told me that the program served approximately 400 organizations over the course of its life. — Caille Millner, SFChronicle.com, "No more BART paper, so no more charity?," 5 Sep. 2019 Clear communication, whether written or in-person, is key. — Fortune, "A Look at Why Poorer Neighborhoods Are Warmer Than Richer Ones: raceAhead," 4 Sep. 2019 Two 14-week training sessions — with 15 families in each — will be scheduled in the spring at different locations to focus on parenting skills and improving communication, the importance of doing homework and avoiding substance abuse, Mumby said. — Erika Butler, baltimoresun.com, "Peer recovery specialists to begin responding with EMS to drug overdoses in Harford County," 4 Sep. 2019 Emojis are most effective as emotional shorthand, helping to signal tone in digital communications, where tone is so easily misread. — Michele Moses, The New Yorker, "A Bot That Captures the Ambivalence of Human Emotion," 4 Sep. 2019 Millennials have grown up with instant gratification in communication, news, product purchase and delivery, and even dating once speed dating became a thing. — Pat Lenhoff, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Meteorologists’ dire (and inaccurate) forecasts ruined my Chicago Bears tailgate experience," 4 Sep. 2019 Omar's campaign paid E. Street Group around $230,000 since 2018 for fundraising consulting, digital communications, Internet advertising and travel expenses, according to federal election records. — Fox News, "Ilhan Omar says questions about alleged affair, misuse of campaign funds are 'stupid'," 29 Aug. 2019 There were solar paddles on board to keep his GPS, communications, and other equipment charged. — David Williams, CNN, "A solo adventurer rode a stand-up paddleboard from California to Hawaii. He saw plastic the whole way there.," 26 Aug. 2019 The proposal allows debt collectors to deliver important information about a debt and a consumer’s rights via links in text messages and emails—without first obtaining consent to electronic communications, as is normally required under federal law. — David Vladeck, WIRED, "The Consumer Bureau's Reckless Plan for Debt Collection," 23 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'communication.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for communication
communication
noun
English Language Learners Definition of communication
: the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else
formal
: a message that is given to someone : a letter, telephone call, etc.
: the ways of sending information to people by using technology
See the full definition for communication in the English Language Learners Dictionary
communication
noun
com·mu·ni·ca·tion
| \ kə-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkā-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of communication
1
: the exchange (as by speech or letter) of information between persons
2
: information exchanged
3
communications plural
: a system of sending information
4
communications plural
: a system of routes for transportation
comm