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
During this time, Rader was bold in his communication with the authorities and the media, going so far as to call police to report the murders, sending the media letters. — Cady Lang, Time, "The True Stories Behind the Serial Killers of Mindhunter Season 2," 22 Aug. 2019 Eileen Echeverria said her most recent communications with the department's Internal Affairs Bureau in June led to her brother being relieved of his weapons. — Evan Simko-bednarski, CNN, "Sister of NYPD officer dead by suicide says the department took her brother's guns away, then gave them back," 18 Aug. 2019 That caused an explosion in fashion history, a watershed in the way its communication would cascade on ’til this very day. — Vogue, "The Women Designers Who Changed The Way We Dress," 14 Aug. 2019 Their communication dated back to November, documents say. — Andrew Clark, Indianapolis Star, "Franklin man had nude photos and videos of underage family member, prosecutors say," 8 Aug. 2019 JPMorgan Chase began testing the technology three years ago, and Lemkau says the company now hopes to use it not just for advertising but also in its internal communications and in customer-service prompts. — Michelle Cheng, Quartz at Work, "JPMorgan Chase has an AI copywriter that writes better ads than humans can," 7 Aug. 2019 My personalized communication with people—even my closest friends—actually increased. — Carmella De Los Angeles Guiol, SELF, "I Gave Up All Social Media for One Full Year. Here’s My Report from the Other Side," 7 Aug. 2019 People in China are already aware that their online communications, even messages sent in private chats, are subject to monitoring and censorship. — Jane Li, Quartz, "How people in China are trying to evade Beijing’s digital surveillance," 6 Aug. 2019 Schafer said the archdiocese also is revamping its internal communications to make sure complaints are run up the chain of command. — Dan Horn, Cincinnati.com, "Shake-up at archdiocese: Cincinnati's No. 2 bishop failed to share complaints about priest," 5 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
communication
noun