dictating machine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Technical
Quick answer
What does “dictating machine” mean?
A device used to record spoken words for later transcription.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device used to record spoken words for later transcription.
A machine, now largely historical, that records speech (typically onto magnetic tape or wax cylinders) to be typed up by a secretary or transcriptionist. In modern contexts, the concept is largely replaced by digital voice recorders and speech-to-text software.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a bygone era of office work, often associated with executives and secretarial pools.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both regions, found primarily in historical contexts or discussions of obsolete technology.
Grammar
How to Use “dictating machine” in a Sentence
[Subject] used a dictating machine to [record memos/letters].The [secretary/assistant] transcribed the notes from the dictating machine.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dictating machine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was dictating a long report into the machine.
- Before the meeting, she dictated her notes onto the tape.
American English
- He dictated the memo into the machine.
- She spent the morning dictating correspondence.
adverb
British English
- [No common adverbial form for this noun phrase]
American English
- [No common adverbial form for this noun phrase]
adjective
British English
- The dictating-machine tape had run out.
- He preferred the dictating-machine method to writing longhand.
American English
- The dictating machine era ended in the 1990s.
- She found an old dictating machine cartridge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical reference to pre-digital office equipment and workflows.
Academic
Used in historical studies of technology, business administration, or gender studies (e.g., secretarial work).
Everyday
Virtually never used; an older person might refer to 'my old dictating machine' when clearing out an attic.
Technical
A specific term in the history of recording and office technology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dictating machine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dictating machine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dictating machine”
- Using 'dictating machine' to refer to modern digital voice recorders or smartphone apps. It is a period-specific term.
- Confusing it with a 'transcription machine' (which is for playing back transcribed interviews).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Dictaphone is a trademarked brand name that became genericised for dictating machines, much like 'Hoover' for vacuum cleaners. In historical context, they refer to the same type of device.
Extremely rarely. Their function has been entirely superseded by digital voice recorders, smartphone apps, and direct speech-to-text software integrated into computers and mobile devices.
Early models used wax cylinders. Later, most common models used magnetic tape on small cassettes, micro-cassettes, or special belts or discs.
Primarily professionals like managers, lawyers, doctors, and authors who needed to generate a high volume of written text. The spoken recording would be given to a secretary or typist for transcription.
A device used to record spoken words for later transcription.
Dictating machine is usually formal, historical, technical in register.
Dictating machine: in British English it is pronounced /dɪkˈteɪtɪŋ məˈʃiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ məˈʃin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a strict DICTATOR speaking commands into a MACHINE for his secretary to type up later.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND/IDEA AS A DICTATOR, THE MACHINE AS A SUBORDINATE RECEIVER. (The machine passively receives and stores the authoritative spoken word.)
Practice
Quiz
What has largely replaced the function of a dictating machine in modern offices?