Skip to main content
tele-

tele-

3.7
A prefix meaning far away used to make words about distance or communication
  • other
  • /ˈtɛlɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tele-
  • The prefix tele- is found in words like 'telephone' and 'television'.

Examples

  • The word 'telegraph' uses the tele- prefix to show communication over long distances.

  • She works in tele-medicine.

  • When you see tele- at the start of a word, it often relates to distance.

  • The tele-conference was scheduled for 3 PM.

  • The prefix tele- is used in words like 'telegraph' that indicate communication over distance.

  • You can find tele- at the beginning of words related to activities that happen far away.

  • In the word 'television', the tele- prefix signifies viewing something from afar.

Synonyms

tele
vstele-
  • Specialized
5.1

A word part that means far away, used in words like telephone

has identical meaning but written with an initial hyphen

Surface Forms

tele- main

Etymology

The prefix tele- comes from a Greek root tele meaning 'far'. You can see it in words like telephone, which literally means 'far sound', and television, which means 'far sight', so tele- shows distance or that something lets you see or talk from far away.