newscast
B2Neutral to formal, slightly more formal than 'news' alone.
Definition
Meaning
A radio or television broadcast of news reports.
A scheduled program consisting of news reports, often including analysis, commentary, or interviews. In digital contexts, can refer to a curated stream or digest of news delivered via podcast or online video.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to the broadcast/program as a whole entity, not the individual news items within it. Implies a structured presentation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both, but 'news programme' (UK) / 'news program' (US) and simply 'the news' are more common in everyday speech. 'Newscast' is slightly more technical or industry-specific.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can sound slightly formal or old-fashioned, evoking a traditional, scheduled broadcast rather than a 24-hour news channel or online feed.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, particularly in media industry jargon. Less common in casual UK conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to anchor/host/present a newscastto produce/direct a newscastto watch/see/listen to a newscastto broadcast/air/run a newscastduring/in/throughout the newscastVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's all for this newscast.”
- “Tune in for our next newscast at 10.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to media consumption habits or advertising slots ('We'll run the ad during the prime-time newscast.').
Academic
Used in media studies to discuss the structure, history, or influence of broadcast news.
Everyday
Less common than 'the news'. Might be used for clarity: 'Did you catch the evening newscast?'
Technical
Used by media professionals to refer to the specific product they are creating or analysing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The story was newscast across the nation at 6 PM.
- They will newscast the event live from the scene.
American English
- The network newscast the president's address in full.
- Major events are newscast simultaneously on all channels.
adverb
British English
- This is not used.
American English
- This is not used.
adjective
British English
- She has a classic newscast voice, clear and authoritative.
- The newscast format has remained largely unchanged for decades.
American English
- He broke into a newscast alert with the latest developments.
- The newscast team prepared for the special election coverage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We watch the newscast on TV every evening.
- The newscast starts at seven o'clock.
- The main newscast reported on the weather storm.
- I missed the morning newscast because I was travelling.
- The anchor presented the newscast with her usual professionalism despite the technical difficulties.
- Critics argue that the traditional nightly newscast is losing viewers to online sources.
- The network's decision to pre-empt the regular newscast for the royal interview sparked controversy among its core audience.
- His analysis deconstructed the narrative framing employed by the prime-time newscast, revealing a subtle political bias.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fisherman casting a net (CAST) to catch the latest NEWS items from the sea of events, then broadcasting them.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS A PRODUCT FOR DISTRIBUTION (broadcast/cast to an audience).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'новости' (news in general). 'Newscast' is the specific programme, like 'выпуск новостей' or 'информационная программа'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'newscast' to refer to a single news item (e.g., 'I saw a newscast about the election' – better: 'I saw a news report...').
- Spelling as 'newscaste' or 'news cast'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate synonym for 'newscast' in most contexts?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'News' refers to the information itself about recent events. A 'newscast' is the specific radio or television programme that presents that news in a structured format.
It can be used, especially if the video mimics the format of a traditional broadcast news programme (e.g., with an anchor, reports). However, 'news video', 'news segment', or 'news update' might be more natural for most online content.
It is common in media and journalism contexts. In everyday conversation, people more frequently say 'the news', 'news programme', or 'news broadcast'.
It is a portmanteau (blend) of 'news' and 'broadcast', coined in the 1930s with the rise of radio news programmes.
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