What does newsflash mean?
A newsflash is a brief announcement or report of important, urgent, or unexpected news. It is especially associated with radio, television, and online alerting, where short headlines and announcements replace a full report. The word can function as a count noun, and its plural is newsflashes. Its tone is generally neutral to urgent, though it can suggest the clipped or sensational delivery of breaking information. A newsflash may be spoken, written, or pushed as a notification, but it remains shorter and more immediate than a full story or article. Although electronic alerts have made the term sound dated to some speakers, it remains a vivid description of a rapidly delivered update, especially when a speaker wants to emphasize that important information has just arrived.
nounA brief announcement or report of important, urgent, or unexpected news. It is especially associated with radio, television, and online alerts.
- A brief report or announcement of important, urgent, or unexpected news, especially one delivered in a broadcast, notification, or online alert.
"A newsflash announced that the emergency services had contained the fire."
"The radio station interrupted its programming with a newsflash about the earthquake."
"A newsflash appeared on the screen before the full report was published."
The plural takes the ending -es and may refer to several brief reports or announcements delivered separately.
"Breaking newsflashes appeared throughout the evening."
Its power comes from pairing the importance of “news” with the speed of a “flash.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does newsflash come from?
The word is an English compound of news and flash. It developed during the era of radio broadcasting to denote a brief, urgent item of news, with flash conveying suddenness and speed. Its later use was extended to written announcements and electronic alerts.
Related word forms
How newsflash is actually used
The term is neutral to urgent in tone and is especially common in journalistic and broadcast contexts. It is generally used as a countable noun, with “newsflashes” as its standard plural; some speakers may consider it somewhat dated when referring to routine online notifications.
Easily confused with newsflash
A flash can refer to any sudden, brief display or announcement, whereas a newsflash specifically conveys news and often emphasizes its urgency or immediacy.