automatic frequency control: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “automatic frequency control” mean?
A system or circuit within a device that automatically maintains a specific frequency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system or circuit within a device that automatically maintains a specific frequency.
A technological mechanism (most commonly in radios, televisions, and communication systems) that uses feedback to correct frequency drift, thereby stabilizing an oscillator's output without manual adjustment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical or spelling differences. The term is identical in both variants. The abbreviation AFC is universally used.
Connotations
Purely technical; no differential connotations between UK and US usage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse but standard within electronics, telecommunications, and engineering fields. Identical frequency across variants within those fields.
Grammar
How to Use “automatic frequency control” in a Sentence
[The/An] [device/set/system] features automatic frequency control.[Device] relies on [automatic frequency control / AFC] for [stability].[We] [enabled/disengaged] the AFC circuit.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “automatic frequency control” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system is designed to automatically frequency-control the local oscillator.
- The receiver automatically frequency-controls to compensate for drift.
American English
- The receiver automatically frequency-controls to compensate for drift.
adjective
British English
- The automatic-frequency-control module failed.
- It's an automatic frequency control feature.
American English
- The automatic frequency control circuit is integrated into the chipset.
- We need to check the AFC (automatic frequency control) settings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Seldom used. May appear in procurement specifications for technical equipment.
Academic
Used in engineering, electronics, and physics textbooks, papers, and lectures.
Everyday
Almost never used, except by enthusiasts discussing vintage radios or modern communications gear.
Technical
Standard term. Used in schematics, technical manuals, and research pertaining to signal processing and radio receivers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “automatic frequency control”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “automatic frequency control”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “automatic frequency control”
- Incorrectly treating it as three separate words without understanding it's a compound noun phrase ('automatic-frequency control'). Mishearing/using 'automatic volume control' (AVC) instead.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different. AFC stabilises the frequency of a signal, while AGC (Automatic Gain Control) stabilises the amplitude or volume.
In FM radios, analogue television receivers, satellite communication systems, and in various types of radio transceivers and test equipment.
In this context, it stands for Automatic Frequency Control. (Note: In other fields, like sports or finance, AFC can stand for entirely different things, e.g., American Football Conference).
Yes, the underlying principle remains crucial in digital communications and signal processing, though it is often implemented as part of more complex digital phase-locked loops (PLLs) or algorithms.
A system or circuit within a device that automatically maintains a specific frequency.
Automatic frequency control is usually technical / academic in register.
Automatic frequency control: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːtəmætɪk ˈfriːkwənsi kənˈtrəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːt̬əˈmæt̬ɪk ˈfriːkwənsi kənˈtroʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a radio automatically tuning in to a station clearly, like a car with cruise control (AFC) for frequency instead of speed.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL IS A SELF-CORRECTING PILOT (keeping the signal on course).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of Automatic Frequency Control (AFC)?