# CBS

/ˌsiˌbiˈɛs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cbs
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. TV/radio network

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

Stands for Columbia Broadcasting System. This is a famous American TV channel known for news, sports, and popular shows.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Columbia Broadcasting System. A primary American commercial broadcast network; the term functions as a proper noun for the media entity.

- We watched the evening news on CBS to see the latest election results.
- The documentary was produced by CBS and aired during prime time to reach a national audience across the United States.

Usage: Always capitalized; usually functions as a proper noun without an article.

Teaching tip: Learners should recognize this as a major US media brand, similar to the BBC in the UK.

### 2. school type

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

Stands for Christian Brothers School. It is a type of Catholic school found in several countries like Ireland and the UK.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Christian Brothers School. A common designation for educational institutions founded or managed by the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

- He attended the local CBS for his secondary education.
- The CBS in the town centre has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and strong community involvement.

Usage: Common in Ireland and parts of the UK; often used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly regional. Outside of Ireland or specific UK contexts, people will assume you mean the American TV network.

## Examples

- The school adopted a new CBS to improve student skills.
- Under the new CBS, students must demonstrate mastery of specific vocational tasks before they can graduate to the next level.
- Critics of the CBS model argue that an over-reliance on measurable competencies can lead to a fragmented curriculum that neglects the broader historical and theoretical context of the subject matter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.