English Reference

Word

bulletin

Phoneticsbul·letin

US/ˈbʊɫɪtən/

UK/bˈʊlɪtˌɪn/

Definitions

01official news report

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a short, official news report about a recent event.

n. a brief public statement or news report issued by an official source, often regarding a matter of urgency.

“The radio station interrupted the music to play an emergency weather bulletin.”

“The government issued a special bulletin regarding the new trade regulations to ensure all businesses were informed before the deadline.”

Usage

Often used with 'news', 'weather', or 'special'.

02regular publication

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a short magazine or newsletter published regularly by a group or club.

n. a periodical publication, such as a newsletter, produced by an organisation for its members.

“I read about the upcoming bake sale in the church bulletin.”

“The monthly research bulletin provides members with a summary of recent developments in the field of molecular biology.”

03to announce officially

C2 · Proficiency Formal

v. to announce something in an official report.

v. to publish or announce information via an official bulletin. Transitive, requiring a direct object.

“The new safety rules were bulletined to all staff members this morning.”

“The department head bulletined the changes to the curriculum, ensuring that every faculty member received the updated syllabus simultaneously.”

Synonyms

announcepostpublicise

04sarcastic news flash

C1 · Advanced Informal · Humorous

interj. you use this to tell someone something that is very obvious, usually to be a bit rude.

interj. used as a sarcastic or ironic introduction to a fact that the speaker considers obvious. Often used in the phrase 'news bulletin'.

“News bulletin: if you don't study, you probably won't pass the exam.”

“Bulletin for you: the world doesn't actually revolve around your schedule.”

Teaching tip

This is often used with a mocking tone to point out someone's lack of common sense.

Synonyms

newsflash

Etymology

Borrowed from French bulletin. By surface analysis, bull (“ball”) + -et (“diminutive”) + -in (“diminutive”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference