Television: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in formal and neutral contexts to refer to the medium or the device. Suitable for professional, educational, or general communication.

• The new television series is gaining a lot of popularity.
• Television has a significant impact on our culture.

Casual and informal term used frequently in everyday conversation to refer to the device or medium.

• Let's watch some TV after dinner.
• Do you have a smart TV at home?

Typically used in a dystopian or science fiction context. It often refers to a device that not only displays content but also surveils viewers, as popularized by George Orwell's novel '1984'.

• In the novel, the telescreen was used to monitor people's activities.
• I feel like we're living in an era where our phones are becoming telescreens.

A colloquial and somewhat outdated term with a slightly negative connotation, often implying that the viewer is wasting time or that the content is of low quality.

• You've been watching the boob tube all day. How about going outside?
• I'm tired of the useless stuff they show on the boob tube.