# VHS

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vhs
Updated: 2026-05-10

## Definition

Stands for Video Home System. A type of plastic tape used to record and play movies on a television. People used these before DVDs and streaming became popular.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Video Home System. A consumer-level analog recording standard for video cassettes. Refers to the physical tape format used in home video systems from the late 1970s until the early 2000s.

## Examples

- I found an old VHS tape of my third birthday party.
- Before the digital revolution, families would go to the local store to rent a VHS for the weekend.
- The archival project aims to digitize thousands of hours of footage currently stored on degrading VHS tapes to preserve the historical record.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'VHS player' or 'VHS tape'.

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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.