conelrad: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely RareHistorical / Technical
Quick answer
What does “conelrad” mean?
A discontinued U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A discontinued U.S. civil defense emergency broadcasting system.
A historical civil defense system from the Cold War era, designed to provide emergency information via AM radio stations using controlled frequency shifts, and now used by extension to refer to outdated or obsolete emergency communication methods or protocols.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is American in origin and refers specifically to a U.S. system. In British contexts, it is only used when discussing American history or comparative civil defense.
Connotations
In the US, it connotes Cold War history and civil defense nostalgia. In the UK, it's a technical/historical Americanism with little cultural resonance.
Frequency
Virtually never used in everyday British English; only appears in specialized American historical or technical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “conelrad” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] was replaced by...The [Proper Noun] system operated from...They discussed the history of [Proper Noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conelrad” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The CONELRAD-era manuals are collectors' items.
- He had a CONELRAD-style transmitter.
American English
- The CONELRAD-era procedures seem archaic now.
- It was a CONELRAD-designated station.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or media studies papers on Cold War America.
Everyday
Almost never used.
Technical
Used by radio historians, emergency management specialists, and Cold War enthusiasts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conelrad”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conelrad”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conelrad”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a conelrad'), misspelling (ConelRad, CONEL-rad), or confusing it with later systems like EBS or EAS.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
CONtrol of ELectronic RADiation.
It was officially active in the United States from 1951 to 1963.
No, it was replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and later the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
It is a historical technical term for a system that was discontinued over 60 years ago, so it has no relevance to modern communication or everyday life.
A discontinued U.
Conelrad is usually historical / technical in register.
Conelrad: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊnəlræd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊnəlræd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rarely used idiomatically] 'About as useful as CONELRAD' (meaning completely obsolete).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONtrol of ELectronic RADiation. Think: CONtrolling the RADio in an emergency.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSOLETE SYSTEM IS A RELIC (e.g., 'That policy is the CONELRAD of internet security').
Practice
Quiz
What does CONELRAD refer to?