# fax

/ˈfæks/ (US) · /fˈæks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fax
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the machine or system

noun · CEFR B1

a machine that scans a document and sends it to another machine through a phone line.

For teachers: the technology or device used for the electronic transmission of scanned printed material.

- The office still has an old fax in the corner, but nobody uses it anymore.
- Before the ubiquity of email attachments, the fax was the primary method for transmitting signed legal contracts across long distances.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the medium of communication.

### 2. the document

noun · CEFR B1

a document that you receive from a fax machine.

For teachers: a document transmitted or received via a telefacsimile machine.

- I just received a three-page fax from the head office regarding the new schedule.
- The lawyer reviewed the blurry fax, noting that several clauses in the agreement were nearly illegible due to the poor transmission quality.

### 3. to send a document

verb · CEFR B1

to send a document using a fax machine.

For teachers: to transmit a document electronically via a telefacsimile system.

- Can you fax these forms to the bank before they close at five?
- The administrative assistant was instructed to fax the confidential report to the regional director immediately upon its completion.

### 4. slang for facts

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang way of saying 'facts' or 'the truth'.

For teachers: a nonstandard phonetic spelling of 'facts', used to refer to undeniable truths.

- He is just out here speaking straight fax about the housing market.
- The influencer's latest post was praised by followers for 'spitting fax' regarding the difficulties of the gig economy.

Teaching tip: This is a very modern, internet-based usage; learners should avoid it in any professional or academic context.

### 5. I agree

interjection · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

something you say to show you strongly agree with what someone just said.

For teachers: an exclamation used to express emphatic agreement with a preceding statement.

- That movie was way too long. — Fax.
- When the speaker mentioned that the city's public transport was failing, several people in the crowd shouted 'Fax' in agreement.

Teaching tip: This functions similarly to 'True' or 'I agree' in casual conversation among younger speakers.

## Examples

- Please send the signed contract by fax.
- The office still keeps a fax machine in the corner for communicating with older government departments.
- While digital signatures and encrypted email have largely replaced the technology, certain legal sectors still rely on a fax for the immediate transmission of physical documents.

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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.