wireless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈaɪələs/
US
- /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
Description
- Without wires
- using radio waves
- untethered
Imagine a world without tangled cords! That's the promise of "wireless" - technology that works or communicates without physical connections. At first, it meant sending messages over long distances without telegraph wires. Think of early radio broadcasts crackling through the air.
Today, "wireless" is everywhere. Your phone connects to the internet through Wi-Fi, your headphones play music without a cord, and Bluetooth lets devices talk to each other without being linked by a cable. It's about freedom from wires. You might describe a wireless mouse as convenient because you can move it around more easily. Or you could say that "wireless communication has changed the way we connect."
"Wireless" describes technology that sends information or power without using physical wires or cables. It often relies on electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, microwaves, or infrared signals, to move data from one place to another.
The idea dates back to the late 19th century with the invention of radio. Inventors such as Guglielmo Marconi showed that messages could be sent across the Atlantic Ocean without wires. This was a major breakthrough. At first, "wireless" referred mainly to radio telegraphy.
Now, "wireless" includes many kinds of technology. Wi-Fi lets computers and smartphones connect to the internet without a cable. Bluetooth supports short-range communication between devices like headphones, speakers, and keyboards. Cellular networks provide phone service without fixed lines. Even charging a phone without plugging it in is called "wireless charging," though the power still passes over a very short distance.
The term can also be used more broadly to describe anything that operates without physical connections. For example, you might say a "wireless network" connects all the devices in your home or office.
So, from early radio broadcasts to modern smartphones and smart homes, "wireless" represents a shift toward freedom, convenience, and connection, all without being tied down by cables. It is about sending signals through the air and making our lives more mobile and connected than ever before.
Examples
- 1
Desk setup
I bought a wireless mouse so my desk would be less crowded.
- 2
Headphones
These wireless headphones connect to my phone in seconds.
- 3
Cafe internet
The cafe offers free wireless internet to customers.
- 4
Signal problem
We had to reset the router when the wireless signal kept dropping.
- 5
Home printer
The printer is wireless, so you can use it from any room in the house.
- 6
Charging
More people are using wireless charging at home and at work.
- 7
Office technology
Our office went wireless last year, except for a few desktop computers.
Phrase
go wireless
change from using cables to using wireless technology
- 8
Old-fashioned radio
My grandfather still calls the radio "the wireless."
Usage
"the wireless"
an old-fashioned word for the radio
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- wirelessnounadjective
Forms
- wirelessespluralnounadjective