Revised 2009
communicationnoun
Factsheet
What does the noun communication mean?
There are 16 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun communication, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
communication has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the noun communication?
About 100occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 21 |
| 1760 | 30 |
| 1770 | 32 |
| 1780 | 40 |
| 1790 | 45 |
| 1800 | 50 |
| 1810 | 58 |
| 1820 | 64 |
| 1830 | 71 |
| 1840 | 68 |
| 1850 | 68 |
| 1860 | 61 |
| 1870 | 53 |
| 1880 | 50 |
| 1890 | 46 |
| 1900 | 42 |
| 1910 | 42 |
| 1920 | 40 |
| 1930 | 40 |
| 1940 | 44 |
| 1950 | 55 |
| 1960 | 75 |
| 1970 | 94 |
| 1980 | 100 |
| 1990 | 110 |
| 2000 | 110 |
| 2010 | 110 |
How is the noun communication pronounced?
British English
/kəˌmjuːnᵻˈkeɪʃn/
kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhn
U.S. English
/kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃən/
kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhn
Where does the noun communication come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun communication is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for communication is from before 1382, in Bible (Wycliffite, early version).
communication is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: French communication; Latin commūnicātiōn-, commūnicātiō.
In other dictionaries
Nearby entries
- communibus annis, adv.1546–
- communicability, n.a1638–
- communicable, adj.a1398–
- communicableness, n.a1631–
- communicably, adv.1610–
- communicant, adj. & n.?a1425–
- communicate, adj.?a1425–1893
- communicate, v.1529–
- communicating, n.1550–
- communicating, adj.1646–
- communication, n.a1382–
- communicational, adj.1862–
- communicationally, adv.1925–
- communication cord, n.1854–
- communication engineer, n.1921–
- communication engineering, n.1920–
- communication gap, n.1930–
- communication line, n.1660–
- communication plate, n.1889–
- communication receiver, n.1931–
- communication satellite, n.1957–
Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for communication, n.
communication, n. was revised in September 2009
communication, n. was last modified in September 2023
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into communication, n. in September 2023.
Earlier versions of communication, n. were published in:
OED First Edition (1891)
OED Second Edition (1989)
Cite
Chicago
Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “”, . <>
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MLA9
“”. Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, , <>
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