teleconference
B2Formal to neutral, professional contexts. Increasingly common in everyday usage due to remote work.
Definition
Meaning
A meeting between people in different locations using telecommunications equipment.
Any meeting, discussion, or conference conducted remotely via audio, video, or both, enabled by technology such as phones, computers, or dedicated conferencing systems.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally emphasized audio-only connections (like a conference call), but now often implies video capability. Can be used as a noun for the event itself or as a verb for the act of participating.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Teleconference' is standard in both. 'Videoconference' or 'video call' is often preferred when visual is key. 'Conference call' is a common near-synonym, especially in business.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/technical than 'call' or 'meet'. In UK English, 'teleconference' might still be associated more with corporate/internal systems; in US English, it's broadly used for any remote meeting tech.
Frequency
High and increasing in both varieties due to remote work trends. 'Zoom' (brand name) is often used generically in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
teleconference with [person/team]teleconference into [meeting]teleconference about/on [topic]teleconference from [location]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Get everyone on the same (teleconference) line”
- “A teleconference away”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard for internal and client meetings across locations. 'Let's teleconference at 3 pm to finalise the proposal.'
Academic
Used for remote lectures, supervisor meetings, or research collaboration. 'The thesis committee will hold a teleconference with the candidate.'
Everyday
Common for family calls, social gatherings, or medical appointments. 'We had a teleconference with our relatives abroad over the holidays.'
Technical
Refers to the specific technology or system used. 'The new software supports encrypted teleconferencing for up to 100 participants.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to teleconference the Tokyo office tomorrow.
- The managers teleconferenced weekly during the project.
American English
- Let's teleconference in the new client on Thursday.
- They teleconference every morning for a stand-up.
adjective
British English
- We booked a teleconference facility for the board.
- The teleconference link was unstable.
American English
- Do you have the teleconference number and PIN?
- We're experiencing teleconference fatigue.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I will talk to my friend by teleconference.
- My teacher uses teleconference for our lessons.
- Our company holds a teleconference every Monday with the Berlin branch.
- Could you please send me the link to join the teleconference?
- Despite the technical glitches, the teleconference was productive and all action points were agreed.
- We are scheduled to teleconference with stakeholders across three different time zones.
- The diplomatic talks proceeded via a secure, encrypted teleconference, mitigating the need for costly and risky travel.
- Her research on distributed teams analyses the socio-linguistic cues often lost in teleconferencing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TELE (far) + CONFERENCE (meeting) = a meeting held from far away.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MEETING IS A SHARED SPACE (even when virtual). A TELECONFERENCE IS A BRIDGE/CONDUIT connecting separated parties.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'телемост' (telemost) which is specific to TV link-ups. 'Телеконференция' is the direct equivalent but can sound formal. 'Селекторное совещание' is a specific type of multi-point audio conference in official contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'teleconference' only for video (it can be audio-only). Confusing it with 'webinar' (which is typically one-to-many). Misspelling as 'teleconferrence'. Using as a verb without object ('Let's teleconference' is fine; 'Let's teleconference the team' is less common).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT necessarily true about a teleconference?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While heavily used in business, it's common in education, healthcare, government, and personal communication.
'Zoom meeting' is a specific brand (like Hoover for vacuum). 'Teleconference' is the generic term. All Zoom meetings are teleconferences, but not all teleconferences use Zoom.
Yes, it's well-established as a verb (to teleconference), especially in professional contexts.
Technically, yes—it's an audio teleconference or conference call. In everyday talk, people might just say 'group call' for simplicity.