cross-post: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, technical
Quick answer
What does “cross-post” mean?
To post the same message or content to more than one online forum, social media platform, or discussion group.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To post the same message or content to more than one online forum, social media platform, or discussion group.
The act or instance of duplicating online content across multiple distinct locations; can also refer to the duplicated content itself. In academic or journalistic contexts, may refer to publishing similar material in different outlets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling sometimes varies as 'crosspost' (one word, no hyphen) more frequently in American usage, while 'cross-post' (hyphenated) is common in British. Concept and usage are identical across regions.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be viewed as spammy or redundant in very large, general US forums; in UK niche forums, it might be seen as efficient sharing within a community.
Frequency
Equally frequent in digital discourse in both regions. Slightly higher frequency in American tech/startup jargon.
Grammar
How to Use “cross-post” in a Sentence
[subject] cross-post [object] to [platform/forum][subject] cross-post from [source] to [destination]It is a cross-post of [original].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cross-post” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll cross-post this query to the developer forum as well.
- She cross-posted the announcement to three different subreddits.
American English
- I crossposted my blog entry to Medium and Tumblr.
- Don't crosspost the same question in all the Slack channels.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as adverb) He posted cross-post, which annoyed the moderators.
American English
- (Rarely used as adverb) She shared it cross-post, maximizing her audience.
adjective
British English
- It was a cross-post article that appeared on both sites.
- Please label your thread as a cross-post if it's duplicated.
American English
- This is just a crosspost thread from r/technology.
- He made a crosspost comment linking to the original.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Sharing marketing content or announcements across LinkedIn, Twitter, and internal platforms to maximise reach.
Academic
Posting a preprint or research query to multiple relevant scholarly repositories or forums.
Everyday
Sharing the same funny meme or personal update on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Technical
A user posting identical bug reports or technical questions to Stack Overflow, GitHub, and a dedicated forum.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cross-post”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cross-post”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cross-post”
- Using 'cross-post' for sharing a link *within* the same platform (that's just 'sharing').
- Misspelling as 'crosspost' or 'cross post' inconsistently.
- Using it for offline contexts (e.g., 'He cross-posted the flyer' – unnatural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends entirely on the community's rules and norms. In some forums, it's encouraged to reach relevant audiences; in others, it's strictly forbidden as spam. Always check guidelines first.
Cross-posting is typically done by the original poster, simultaneously or shortly after the first post, to different locations. Reposting usually involves someone else sharing old or existing content again, often much later.
Yes, commonly. For example: 'That thread is just a cross-post from r/science.'
Both hyphenated and single-word forms ('crosspost') are accepted. British English tends to favour the hyphen, while American English often uses the single word, especially in tech contexts. Consistency within a document is key.
To post the same message or content to more than one online forum, social media platform, or discussion group.
Cross-post is usually informal, technical in register.
Cross-post: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒs pəʊst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔːs poʊst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't cross-post and ghost (neglect all threads).”
- “A cross-post a day keeps the engagement away (sarcastic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a postal worker (POST) carrying the same letter across a road (CROSSING) to deliver it to multiple houses on different streets.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A BROADCAST SIGNAL (sent to multiple receivers).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'cross-post'?