What does podcasting mean?
Podcasting is the practice of producing and sharing serialized audio episodes over the internet, usually through an RSS feed and a listening app. A podcast may cover news, interviews, education, comedy, fiction, business, or almost any subject that can be explored conversationally. The word combines “pod,” a term for a series of downloadable media, with “broadcasting,” reflecting the way episodes are released to an audience. Podcasting is distinctive because it is generally on demand: listeners choose when to listen and can often play episodes at increased speed or skip selected portions. It has become an important form of independent publishing, giving creators a way to build direct relationships with listeners while journalists, educators, businesses, and public figures use it to communicate regularly and on demand.
The practice of creating, publishing, or distributing audio episodes over the internet, especially as a regular series.
"Podcasting allows creators to publish interviews and commentary directly to their audience."
The word can also refer to the audio series or activity itself, depending on context.
To create, publish, or present content in the form of an online audio series.
"They podcast every week about developments in the technology industry."
Often used in the present participle, as in “she has been podcasting for several years.”
Podcasting turned the internet into a medium for serialized, on-demand audio, allowing anyone with a microphone to publish a show to a global audience.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of podcasting
“Podcasting” developed in the early 2000s from the blend “podcast,” which combines “pod,” referring to a series of downloadable media files, with “broadcast.” The word “podcast” was coined by the British satirist and broadcaster Steven Drozd. The associated gerund “podcasting” follows the regular English pattern of adding “-ing” to a verb and came into widespread use as the medium expanded.
Related word forms
How podcasting is actually used
The term is broadly used in professional journalism, business, education, and informal creative media. It usually refers to audio content distributed digitally, although the format can include video, and many podcasts are also made available as written articles or transcripts.