correspondent
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person who reports news from a particular place or on a particular subject, especially for a newspaper, television, or radio station.
1. A person who writes letters to another. 2. Something that corresponds or is analogous to something else.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The adjectival sense ('corresponding') is more common as the present participle 'corresponding'. The noun can refer to a professional role (journalist) or a participant in a communicative relationship (letter-writer).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The journalistic sense is dominant in both. The term 'foreign correspondent' is equally common.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes professionalism and often specialization in a field or region.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media, but common in both. The letter-writing sense is somewhat archaic in everyday use in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
correspondent for [organization]correspondent in [location]correspondent on [topic]correspondent with [experience]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pen pal (for the letter-writing sense)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a journalist specializing in business or financial news, e.g., 'The Wall Street Journal's correspondent in Tokyo.'
Academic
Rare. Can refer to a researcher who exchanges letters or data with another.
Everyday
Most commonly understood as a TV or newspaper journalist reporting from elsewhere.
Technical
In legal/formal contexts, can mean 'something that matches or is analogous.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The increase in sales was correspondent with the new advertising campaign. (Formal/Archaic)
American English
- The budget cuts were correspondent to a drop in service quality. (Formal/Archaic)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is a correspondent for the BBC.
- The newspaper sent a special correspondent to cover the election.
- As the network's chief foreign correspondent, she has reported from over fifty countries.
- The decline in manufacturing jobs was roughly correspondent with the rise in automation, a trend the economics correspondent analysed in depth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CORRESPONDent as someone who CORRESPONDS (writes/reports) for a living.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A BRIDGE (the correspondent bridges the gap between the event and the audience).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'корреспондент' in the sense of a simple 'respondent' to a survey. The English word implies active reporting, not just answering.
- Do not directly translate 'военный корреспондент' as 'military correspondent'; the standard term is 'war correspondent'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'correspondent' to mean 'someone who agrees' (that's 'in agreement with').
- Misspelling as 'correspondant'.
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'to correspond').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'correspondent' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A correspondent is a reporter who is regularly stationed in a specific location (e.g., foreign correspondent) or covers a specific subject (e.g., health correspondent), implying expertise and a dedicated role. A 'reporter' is a more general term.
Yes, but it is formal and somewhat archaic. The present participle 'corresponding' (e.g., 'corresponding increase') is far more common in modern English.
It is understandable but not a standard professional title. 'Pen pal' is the traditional term for a personal letter-writing friend. For professional email exchange, 'contact' or 'interlocutor' is more typical.
The primary stress is on the third syllable: cor-re-SPON-dent. The first syllable has a secondary stress.
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