Television is a system for sending moving images and sound over a distance so they can be watched on a screen. The word is also used for the device itself and for the shows that are broadcast.
It combines Greek 'tēle' meaning 'far' and Latin 'visio' meaning 'sight' or 'seeing'. The term was adopted in the early 20th century as the technology developed.
The word 'television' literally means 'far-seeing', which is exactly what early inventors dreamed of: seeing distant events live. Even though many people now stream on phones, we still call the whole industry 'television', showing how old tech words can outlive the gadgets they named.
Television has historically portrayed gender in stereotyped ways, with women underrepresented in technical and leadership roles and overrepresented in domestic or sexualized roles. The medium has both reflected and shaped gender norms.
When discussing television, be explicit about representation patterns and avoid reinforcing stereotypes about what kinds of shows are ‘for’ which genders.
["TV","broadcast media"]
Women creators, writers, and producers have transformed television, often fighting for more complex and diverse representation despite industry resistance.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.