teleprinter
RareHistorical/Technical
Definition
Meaning
An electromechanical device for sending and receiving typed messages over long distances via telegraph or telephone lines.
A now largely historical telecommunications device that printed text on paper tape, used extensively for news services, business communications, and military purposes before being superseded by computer networks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with mid-20th century communications technology; often appears in historical or nostalgic contexts. The term implies both the sending and receiving functions in a single unit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. British English may use 'teleprinter' slightly more frequently than American English, where 'teletypewriter' or the trade name 'Teletype' were also common.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes obsolescence and historical technology. In British contexts, specifically associated with Post Office and news agency communications.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary usage in both varieties. Primarily appears in historical texts, museums, and discussions of technological evolution.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Teleprinter] was used for [purpose]The [message] came over the [teleprinter]Operate a [teleprinter]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The teleprinter never lies (historical journalism saying)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Obsolete; historical reference to pre-internet inter-office communications and news wire services.
Academic
Used in historical studies of communication technology, media history, and the evolution of telecommunications.
Everyday
Almost never used in contemporary everyday conversation; might be mentioned by older generations or in museum contexts.
Technical
Appears in discussions of legacy systems, telecommunications history, or in very specific contexts like vintage computer restoration.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The news agency teleprinted the story to regional offices.
- He learned to teleprint during his National Service.
American English
- The bureau teletyped the dispatch to headquarters.
- She teleprinted the inventory reports daily.
adjective
British English
- The teleprinter room was deafeningly loud.
- He was a teleprinter operator for Reuters.
American English
- The teletype circuit was busy all morning.
- We received a teleprinter message from central command.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is an old teleprinter. It printed news long ago.
- In the past, journalists used teleprinters to receive news from other cities.
- Before email, businesses relied on teleprinters for rapid long-distance written communication, though the machines were very noisy.
- The clattering teleprinter, once the nerve center of the newsroom, now sits as a museum piece, symbolising a bygone era of analog information exchange.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'telephone' + 'printer' → a printer that works over telephone distances.
Conceptual Metaphor
A mechanical messenger; a clattering forerunner of the silent digital age.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'телетайп' (teletype) - they are synonymous. Avoid direct calque like 'телепринтер', which is less common; 'телетайп' is the standard Russian equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'teleprinter' to refer to a modern network printer. Misspelling as 'teleprinter' (incorrect). Confusing it with a telegraph (which uses Morse code) or a telex (a later, more advanced network system).
Practice
Quiz
What primarily replaced the teleprinter for most of its functions?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A telegraph typically transmitted and received Morse code. A teleprinter sent and received typed text, making it usable by operators without specialist Morse code training.
Teleprinters were most prevalent from the 1930s through the 1970s, before being gradually phased out by computer terminals, fax machines, and email in the 1980s and 1990s.
They are not manufactured for commercial use anymore. However, vintage models are collected and restored by enthusiasts, and some can be interfaced with modern computers for historical demonstration purposes.
Telex refers to the worldwide switched network service that used teleprinter terminals. A teleprinter is the physical machine; Telex is the network it connected to, similar to how a telephone is a device and the telephone network is the service.