facsimile machine
C1Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
An electronic device that scans and transmits copies of documents over telephone lines.
A telecommunication device (often called fax machine or simply fax) for sending and receiving documents as electronic images.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is formal and slightly dated, often replaced by 'fax machine' or just 'fax' in common usage. Refers specifically to the hardware, not the transmitted document itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both regions use the term, but 'fax machine' is more common in everyday speech. No significant difference in meaning.
Connotations
In both regions, the term can sound formal or old-fashioned. It connotes a technology largely superseded by email and digital scanning.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern casual conversation; higher in technical, historical, or formal business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to send [document] via a facsimile machineto receive [document] on a facsimile machineVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the fax of life (play on 'facts of life')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal documentation or when specifying hardware, e.g., 'All departments must have a functioning facsimile machine.'
Academic
Used in historical or technological studies, e.g., 'The facsimile machine revolutionized document transmission in the 1980s.'
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; 'fax machine' or 'fax' preferred.
Technical
Used in specifications, manuals, or telecommunications contexts to denote a specific class of device.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please facsimile the contract to our solicitors.
- The report was facsimiled to headquarters.
American English
- Please fax the contract to our lawyers.
- The report was faxed to headquarters.
adverb
British English
- The documents were transmitted facsimile.
American English
- The documents were sent fax.
adjective
British English
- We need a facsimile transmission of the signed form.
- The document was sent via facsimile link.
American English
- We need a faxed copy of the signed form.
- The document was sent via fax line.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a facsimile machine. You can send papers with it.
- Our office still uses a facsimile machine for some official documents.
- Before email became ubiquitous, the facsimile machine was the fastest way to send a signed document.
- The archaic facsimile machine, with its thermal paper and dial-up screeches, now serves as a relic of late-twentieth-century office technology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FACSIMILE = FACT + SIMILAR. A machine that makes a factually similar copy.
Conceptual Metaphor
A distant photocopier (transmission over distance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'факсимильный аппарат' in casual speech; 'факс' is the common equivalent.
- Do not confuse with 'ксерокс' (photocopier).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'facsimile machine' to refer to the document sent (the correct term is 'fax' or 'facsimile').
- Misspelling as 'facismile'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern synonym for 'facsimile machine'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'facsimile machine' is the formal, full term for what is commonly called a 'fax machine' or simply a 'fax'.
The technology has been largely replaced by email and digital document sharing, making the formal term sound dated. The shortened form 'fax' is far more common.
Yes. A 'facsimile' can also mean an exact copy or reproduction of something, like a facsimile edition of an ancient manuscript.
Yes, but it is highly formal and uncommon. The verb 'to fax' is universally preferred in both British and American English.