What does retransmitting mean?
Retransmitting means sending a message, signal, or broadcast again. The word is especially common in telecommunications, radio, emergency communications, and data transmission, where a weak or interrupted signal may need to be received and sent again. It can also describe relaying information to another person or group, usually with the implication that the information has passed through an intermediary. The prefix re- indicates repetition, while the underlying verb transmit means “to send or pass on.” Although retransmitting can be used broadly, it is particularly associated with technical and institutional contexts rather than casual conversation. It may refer to repeating a broadcast unchanged, rebroadcasting it through another station, or forwarding a communication so that it reaches its intended recipient.
verbTo transmit again, especially a message, signal, or broadcast that has already been sent. It can also mean to relay communication to another person or audience.
- To send or broadcast something again.
- To pass a message or communication from one person or system to another, often after receiving it first.
"The emergency station continued retransmitting the alert after a brief loss of its satellite signal."
"The radio operator retransmitted the distress call on all available frequencies."
"Please retransmit the instructions to the team once they reach the remote station."
When a signal is weak or lost, retransmitting it can be the difference between hearing an urgent warning and hearing nothing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of retransmitting
Retransmitting combines the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with transmit, from Latin transmitter, meaning “to send across” or “to send forth.” The English verb transmit developed in the early 17th century, initially in contexts involving sending or passing messages forward. The prefix re- was added to the word during the 19th century, following the broader English practice of forming verbs with re- to indicate a repeated action.
Related word forms
How retransmitting is actually used
The term is common in telecommunications, broadcasting, emergency response, and technical documentation. It usually implies that the original transmission has already occurred and is being repeated or routed again.