Faxing: meaning, definitions and examples

Historical Origins

• The term 'fax' is short for 'facsimile,' which means an exact copy or reproduction.
• The first commercial fax machine was invented in 1843 by Scottish inventor Alexander Bain.
• Fax technology used to convert documents into electric signals, which were then sent over telephone lines to create copies.

Technology

• Faxing became widely popular in the 1980s and 1990s, enabling businesses to share documents quickly.
• Modern fax machines often come with features like scanning, printing, and even email capabilities.
• With the advent of email and digital documents, traditional faxing has declined, though it’s still used in some industries.

Business Culture

• Faxing became an essential tool for business communication, particularly in law and finance.
• Many companies still use faxing to send documents that require signatures due to legal requirements.
• In some countries, faxing is considered more secure than email for transmitting sensitive information.

Cultural Impact

• The phrase 'I’ll fax it to you' became a common way to express sharing important documents.
• In pop culture, fax machines are often portrayed as symbols of the 'old school' way of doing business.
• Faxing has inspired various comedic sketches and jokes about outdated technology in modern offices.

Environmental Considerations

• Faxing requires paper and ink, which raises concerns about environmental impact if not recycled properly.
• Digital fax services, which send documents online, are becoming popular to reduce paper waste.
• Businesses are encouraged to limit faxing and transition to electronic communication to promote sustainability.

Ranking #36,063, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 36060 salivating
• 36061 insusceptible
• 36062 corpulence
• 36063 faxing
• 36064 kiloton
• 36065 woodsy
• 36066 bolero
• ...