# NBC

/ˈɛnˌbiˈsi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. TV network

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

Stands for National Broadcasting Company. A famous American television and radio network.

For teachers: Abbreviation for National Broadcasting Company. A major American commercial broadcast television and radio network.

- We watched the Olympics on NBC last night.
- The sitcom originally aired on NBC before being sold into syndication across several international cable networks.

### 2. hazardous weapons

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for nuclear, biological, and chemical. A term used for dangerous weapons or materials.

For teachers: Abbreviation for nuclear, biological, and chemical. A collective term for weapons of mass destruction or hazardous materials in military and emergency contexts.

- The soldiers were trained to wear special suits for NBC protection.
- The emergency response team conducted a drill to prepare for a potential NBC threat in the city center.

Usage: Often used as a modifier before another noun like 'suit', 'protection', or 'threat'.

### 3. relating to NBC hazards

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for nuclear, biological, and chemical. Used to describe things related to these types of weapons.

For teachers: Abbreviation for nuclear, biological, and chemical. Pertaining to the defense against or the nature of such warfare agents.

- The facility has an NBC filtration system to keep the air clean.
- Modern armored vehicles are typically equipped with NBC reconnaissance sensors to detect environmental contaminants in real time.

## Examples

- I usually watch the evening news on NBC.
- The Olympics are broadcast on NBC in the United States every two years.
- As one of the oldest major networks, NBC has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of American broadcast journalism and entertainment since the early twentieth century.

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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.