flat screen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to technical (in its specific sense); common in everyday conversation.
Quick answer
What does “flat screen” mean?
A thin, flat-panel electronic display screen, used for televisions, computer monitors, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, flat-panel electronic display screen, used for televisions, computer monitors, etc., typically using LCD, LED, OLED, or plasma technology.
Can refer metonymically to the entire television set or monitor that contains such a screen, or to a style of design characterized by such screens.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The spelling is 'flat screen' (two words) or as a hyphenated adjective 'flat-screen' in both regions.
Connotations
Identical. Connotes modern, sleek, space-saving technology. The term 'flat-screen' has largely replaced just 'screen' or 'telly' for modern televisions in casual speech.
Frequency
Very high and equal frequency in both varieties, as the technology is globally standardized.
Grammar
How to Use “flat screen” in a Sentence
[verb] + a flat screen: buy, mount, install, watch, upgrade to, connect to[adjective] + flat screen: large, new, high-definition, 4K, OLED, slimflat screen + [noun]: flat-screen television, flat-screen modelVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flat screen” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- We're looking for a flat-screen telly.
- It's a flat-screen model from Samsung.
American English
- We're looking for a flat-screen TV.
- It's a flat-screen model from Samsung.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In retail and marketing: 'Our Q3 sales of flat-screen monitors exceeded targets.'
Academic
In media or technology studies: 'The adoption of flat-screen technology revolutionized domestic viewing spaces.'
Everyday
Casual conversation: 'We need a new flat screen for the living room.'
Technical
Specifications: 'The device features a 24-inch IPS flat screen with a 144Hz refresh rate.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flat screen”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flat screen”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flat screen”
- Writing it as one word ('flatscreen') is increasingly common but not yet the standard in formal writing. Using 'flat screen' to refer to very old projection screens (which were also flat but not thin-panel).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it is typically written as two words ('flat screen'). When used as an adjective before another noun, it is usually hyphenated ('flat-screen TV').
No. 'Flat screen' is a broad term covering different underlying technologies like LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LED (Light Emitting Diode, a type of LCD), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), and plasma (now largely obsolete), which vary in picture quality, price, and energy use.
Yes, absolutely. The term applies to any thin-panel display, whether for a television, computer monitor, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
The direct historical opposite is a 'cathode-ray tube (CRT)' television or monitor, which was very deep and heavy. In modern contexts, a 'curved screen' could be considered a contrasting design, though it still uses flat-panel technology.
A thin, flat-panel electronic display screen, used for televisions, computer monitors, etc.
Flat screen is usually neutral to technical (in its specific sense); common in everyday conversation. in register.
Flat screen: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflat ˈskriːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflæt ˈskrin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) flat as a screen (non-standard, humorous)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a screen that is literally FLAT, unlike the old bulky TVs that stuck out at the back.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLATNESS IS MODERNITY / SLIMNESS IS SUPERIORITY (contrasted with the bulky, outdated technology).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary technological feature that defines a 'flat screen'?