videophone
LowTechnical/Formal
Definition
Meaning
A telephone device that transmits both audio and video, allowing users to see each other while talking.
Any technology or service enabling real-time video communication between two or more parties, often via internet protocols.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is somewhat dated, having been largely superseded by 'video call' or specific app names (Zoom, FaceTime). It originally referred to dedicated hardware.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both varieties use the term.
Connotations
In both, it can sound slightly old-fashioned or technical.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. 'Video call' is more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to videophone someoneto have a videophone call with someoneto talk on the videophoneVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal contexts for scheduled video conferences, especially referencing older or dedicated systems.
Academic
Used in historical or technological discussions about the evolution of communication.
Everyday
Rarely used; people refer to the specific app or say 'video call'.
Technical
Used in telecommunications and IT to describe the function or a specific class of device.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company plans to videophone its remote staff for the meeting.
American English
- We can videophone the client to demonstrate the prototype.
adjective
British English
- The videophone technology was groundbreaking for its time.
American English
- They installed a new videophone system in the office.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandma has a videophone. We can see her when we talk.
- The hospital uses videophones so patients can talk to their families.
- Although considered futuristic in the 1960s, the videophone never achieved widespread consumer adoption.
- The proliferation of broadband internet has rendered the dedicated videophone largely obsolete, supplanted by software-based solutions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
VIDEO + PHONE = A phone that shows video.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A WINDOW (it opens a visual window to the other person).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'видеотелефон' as it is not the standard term. The common Russian equivalent is 'видеозвонок' or 'видеотелефония'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'videophone' as a verb (e.g., 'I'll videophone you' is non-standard). Using it to refer to modern smartphone video chat apps.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most commonly used today instead of 'videophone'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is now a low-frequency, somewhat dated term. 'Video call' or the name of the specific application (e.g., Zoom, FaceTime) is far more common.
It is very rare and non-standard. The preferred phrasing is 'to make a video call' or 'to video call' someone.
A 'videophone' traditionally referred to a single, dedicated piece of hardware. A 'video call' is a function performed by software on a multi-purpose device like a computer or smartphone.
As a dedicated consumer device, it was not widely adopted due to high cost and limited utility. However, the concept succeeded enormously through internet-based software and webcams.