magazine
B1Neutral (formal and informal)
Definition
Meaning
A publication, usually issued regularly, containing articles, stories, photographs, and advertisements.
A place for storing goods (especially arms, ammunition, or explosive material); a compartment in a firearm for holding cartridges; a collection or supply of something (e.g., a magazine of ideas).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning relates to periodicals. The 'storage' meaning is older and is now largely technical/military, though occasionally used metaphorically. 'Magazine' as a compartment in a firearm is a distinct, specific subsense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Pronunciation differs slightly. In the UK, the compound 'magazine programme/show' (a TV/radio programme containing several different items) is more common, whereas in the US it's often just 'magazine show'.
Connotations
Largely identical. In both contexts, the word can connote lightweight/popular content ('glossy magazine') versus serious journalism ('news magazine').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties. The 'storage/ammunition' sense is less frequent in everyday speech in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + magazine: read/buy/subscribe to/publish/launch/edit a magazineADJECTIVE + magazine: weekly/monthly/online/glossy/trade/news magazinemagazine + NOUN: magazine article/cover/editor/rack/subscriptionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a common idiom carrier]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to trade publications or industry-specific periodicals (e.g., 'The industry magazine reported on the merger').
Academic
Can refer to scholarly journals, though 'journal' is more precise. Used in media studies.
Everyday
Primarily refers to consumer periodicals bought or read for leisure, news, or hobbies.
Technical
Refers to a storage room for explosives/ammunition or the ammunition clip/chamber of a firearm.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- It was a typical magazine-style article.
- She works in magazine publishing.
American English
- It was a typical magazine-style article.
- She works in magazine publishing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I buy a fashion magazine every month.
- There is a magazine on the table.
- She wrote an article for a travel magazine.
- He subscribes to two car magazines.
- The investigative piece was first published in a reputable news magazine.
- The old ammunition magazine was converted into a museum.
- The magazine's editorial line has shifted considerably over the past decade.
- He metaphorically described his mind as a magazine of eclectic facts and anecdotes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MAGAZINE rack in a shop holding a storehouse of stories and images, like an ammunition storehouse holds bullets.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MAGAZINE IS A CONTAINER/STORAGE (for information, ideas, ammunition).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'магазин' (shop/store). In English, 'magazine' is rarely a retail shop. The Russian word derives from the same 'storage' root but evolved differently.
- Do not translate 'журнал' automatically as 'magazine'; for academic/scientific contexts, 'journal' is often better.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect spelling: 'magazing', 'magazene'.
- Misuse: 'I went to the magazine to buy food.' (using 'magazine' for 'shop').
- Pronunciation: Stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., /'mæɡ.ziːn/).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of 'magazine'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral; appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, though specific compounds (e.g., 'glossy magazine') may be more informal.
Typically, 'magazines' are aimed at the general public or specific hobbyists, contain adverts, and are often glossy. 'Journals' are usually more academic, scientific, or professional, containing research articles with fewer advertisements.
No, in modern standard English 'magazine' is not used as a verb. The related concept is 'to publish'.
The word entered English from French 'magasin' (meaning 'storehouse'), which came from Italian 'magazzino', from Arabic 'makhāzin' (plural of 'storehouse'). The 'periodical' meaning developed metaphorically in the 18th century, suggesting a 'storehouse' of information.