cable television

noun

: a system of television reception in which signals from distant stations are picked up by a master antenna and sent by cable to the individual receivers of paying subscribers

called also cable TV

Examples of cable television in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sotheby’s will offer the collection of cable television magnate Ted Baum and his wife, interior designer Ruth Baum, with the whole estimated to total in excess of $100 million. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The states also said Paramount-Warner would control nearly 30% of the cable television channel space with more than 50 networks. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 At Arlington City Hall, the day’s City Council meeting ended early, and Mayor Elzie Odom urged calm in a rare, live cable television broadcast. — Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026 The first Practical Magic was a fun mess whose cinematography, set design, and approach felt warm and easy to return to when flipping through channels in the age of cable television. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cable television

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cable television was in 1951

Rhymes for cable television

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Browse Nearby Words

cable tank
cable television
cable tier
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Cite this Entry

“Cable television.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cable%20television. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cable television

noun
: a system of television reception in which signals from distant stations are picked up by a main antenna and sent by cable to the sets of paying subscribers

called also cable TV

More from Merriam-Webster on cable television

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cable television

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