ceefax: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
very lowhistorical, UK-specific, technical
Quick answer
What does “ceefax” mean?
The trademarked name for the BBC's teletext information service (1974-2012).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The trademarked name for the BBC's teletext information service (1974-2012).
Proper noun referring specifically to the BBC's implementation of the teletext system, providing news, weather, TV listings, subtitles, and other information accessible via television sets. By extension, sometimes used as a general term for teletext in the UK.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term was exclusive to British (specifically BBC) usage. Americans had no direct equivalent branded service, though generic teletext existed.
Connotations
Nostalgia, retro technology, pre-internet information source.
Frequency
Extremely rare in current use. Primarily found in historical or nostalgic contexts in the UK. Virtually unknown in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “ceefax” in a Sentence
watch [sth] on Ceefaxlook up [sth] on CeefaxVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ceefax” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Ceefax-era graphics
- a Ceefax-style display
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical reference in media or tech industries.
Academic
In media studies or communication history.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday speech except for nostalgia.
Technical
Historical term in broadcasting/telecoms.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ceefax”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'I read the ceefax') without the capital C.
- Thinking it is still an active service.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a phonetic play on 'See Facts' (C for see, fax for facts).
No. The BBC closed the Ceefax service in 2012 with the digital switchover.
No. It was a one-way, broadcast text and simple graphics service sent within the television signal, with no interactive capabilities.
No. Ceefax was a UK-specific BBC service. Other countries had their own teletext systems under different names (e.g., Antiope in France, Teletext in the UK for non-BBC services).
The trademarked name for the BBC's teletext information service (1974-2012).
Ceefax is usually historical, uk-specific, technical in register.
Ceefax: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːfæks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiːfæks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SEE the FACTS → Cee-fax.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SCROLLING NEWSPAPER inside the television.
Practice
Quiz
What was 'Ceefax'?