# tele

/ˈtɛɫə/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tele
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a short word for the television. People use this when they are talking casually at home.

For teachers: a shortened form of 'television', used in casual speech and writing. Common in British English and other Commonwealth dialects.

## Examples

- What is on the tele tonight?
- After a long day at work, he usually just wants to sit on the sofa and watch the tele.
- The rise of streaming services has fundamentally changed how families interact with the tele, as scheduled broadcasting gives way to on-demand viewing habits.

## Usage notes

- Usually used with the definite article 'the'. Often spelled 'telly' in British English.

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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.