WiFi
31
1.3
- noun
- /ˈwaɪˌfaɪ/
- Specialized
:
Wi-Fi
- The café offers free WiFi, making it a great place to study.
- WiFi network
- WiFi hotspot
- home WiFi
Examples
-
And in those eight years, from what I can tell, hotel WiFi has not improved one bit.
Blog text (6) -
There's no wifi in the room, and it's really hard to get.
-
My kingdom for a WiFi signal.
-
We're gonna be without roads, radio, wifi or any kind of contact with the outside world for three hours.
-
Like digital technology in general, WiFi gives us more freedom and power.
Academic text (2015) -
Other hotels get away with offering WiFi for free just fine, and even use it as a selling point.
Blog text (6) -
The lighthouse had a WiFi connection, but it did not work well.
Academic text (2009) -
We just traced it to a doughnut shop with free WiFi.
-
But whenever possible, it's best to do updates over connections you're sure are secure rather than using public WiFi.
Academic text (2015) -
I don't know too many people these days who don't have a WiFi router installed at their home.
Blog text (1)
Synonyms
41
3.1
A system for sending signals without wires, often by radio
1
3.7
A wireless network that connects devices in a building or campus
A system that lets devices connect to the internet without wires, often called Wi-Fi
A system that sends data over short distances without wires, like in an office
How Fast
- Specialized
7
3.9
- Specialized
11
4.1
- Specialized
31
1.3
58
1.0
- Archaic
1
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
WiFi = W + i + F + i
WiFi is a coined trade name/initialism (commonly written Wi‑Fi) formed from letters, not productive English morphemes, so learners cannot derive its meaning from the component characters.
Etymology
The word WiFi was created as a catchy brand name that copies the sound of Hi-Fi ('high fidelity'), the old phrase for very good sound. Many people think WiFi stands for 'Wireless Fidelity', but a helpful way to remember it is to think of wireless as 'wire-free' internet, so WiFi means connecting devices to the internet without wires.