newsflash
C1Informal, but can appear in formal broadcast contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A short, urgent announcement of important news, typically interrupting a radio or television broadcast.
An emphatic way to announce new, often surprising information in various contexts, including conversation and digital media.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Suggests urgency, novelty, and importance. Often used sarcastically or humorously when the 'news' is trivial or already known.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both regions use the term. American English more commonly uses 'news bulletin' or just 'flash' (e.g., 'Flash: President signs bill').
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with the specific, official-sounding TV/radio interruption. US: Slightly more informal, sometimes seen as a dated TV trope.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media; in the US, 'breaking news' or 'news alert' are more contemporary equivalents.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
A newsflash came through that...We interrupt this programme for a newsflash.Newsflash: [statement of news]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “And now for a newsflash... (ironic setup)”
- “Newsflash! (sarcastic interjection)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously in a meeting: 'Newsflash: the quarterly targets are unmet.'
Academic
Virtually never used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in spoken English for emphasis or irony: 'Newsflash: it's raining again.'
Technical
Specific to broadcast journalism and related technical fields (e.g., 'insert a newsflash graphic').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The programme was newsflashed with the election result.
- They'll newsflash any developments.
American English
- The network newsflashed the verdict across the screen.
- We don't typically newsflash local weather events.
adverb
British English
- The report came newsflash-quick.
- He announced it newsflash-style.
American English
- The information was delivered newsflash-fast.
- She spoke newsflash-brief.
adjective
British English
- The newsflash bulletin was startling.
- A newsflash graphic appeared.
American English
- She delivered the newsflash update.
- He has a newsflash style of speaking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw a newsflash on TV.
- The newsflash was about a storm.
- A newsflash interrupted the film with important information.
- Did you hear the newsflash on the radio this morning?
- The anchor paused for a sudden newsflash regarding the political crisis.
- Newsflash: the company's CEO has just resigned unexpectedly.
- Amid the ceremony, a terse newsflash scrolled across the screen, altering the day's narrative entirely.
- He began his critique with a sarcastic, 'Newsflash: not all innovative ideas are actually good.'
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FLASH of light when important NEWS arrives suddenly, interrupting everything.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS A PHYSICAL INTERRUPTION / NEWS IS A LIGHTNING BOLT (sudden, illuminating).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like *новостная вспышка*. Use 'срочное сообщение' or 'экстренный выпуск новостей'.
- Do not confuse with 'новости' (general news). 'Newsflash' is a specific, interruptive format.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for any piece of news without the element of suddenness or interruption.
- Spelling as two words (*news flash*) – while sometimes seen, the closed compound 'newsflash' is standard.
- Overusing in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'newsflash' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one closed compound word: 'newsflash'. The two-word form 'news flash' is less common.
They are very similar. 'Newsflash' often implies a very short, specific announcement that interrupts programming. 'Breaking news' is a broader term for news that is currently developing, which may involve longer coverage.
Yes, but it will sound dramatic, urgent, or potentially sarcastic. Use it sparingly, e.g., 'Newsflash: Project Deadline Moved to Friday.'
While its use in formal broadcast journalism has been somewhat superseded by terms like 'breaking news alert', it remains very active in everyday spoken language for emphasis and irony.