What does teleconference mean?
A teleconference is a meeting in which participants who are in different locations communicate through telephone or other telecommunications links. It allows people to exchange information and make decisions without being physically present in the same room, making it useful for business, government, academic, and international communication. The word is especially associated with organized conference calls and may sound formal or institutional, although it remains understandable and occasionally appears in technical and historical contexts. In current digital communication, videoconferencing is more prominent, but a teleconference can be distinguished by focusing on the telecommunications connection rather than necessarily including video. The prefix tele-, meaning “at a distance,” clearly expresses the word’s central idea: bringing together people who are geographically separated. The term is therefore useful for describing communication methods that precede or differ from modern video-based meetings.
nounA conference call or meeting in which participants located in different places communicate by telephone or another telecommunications link.
- A conference call in which people in different locations participate by telephone or another telecommunications link.
"The ministers held a teleconference to discuss the emergency response."
"The international organization used a teleconference to bring its regional directors together."
"With a teleconference link, the researchers were able to discuss the results without travelling."
The standard plural adds -s and is used for separate meetings or conference calls.
"The government organized several teleconferences for regional officials during the crisis."
The prefix tele- means “at a distance”: the word literally describes a conference conducted remotely.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of teleconference
Teleconference is a modern formation combining the combining form tele-, from Greek tēle meaning “far away” or “at a distance,” with conference, from Latin con- meaning “together” and ferre meaning “to bring or carry.” The compound reflects the development of telecommunications technologies that made it possible for people separated by geography to participate in a conference. Its related forms, such as telephone, telegraph, and telepathy, share the same Greek prefix and the broad sense of communication or perception across distance.
How teleconference is actually used
The term is neutral and professional, with a somewhat dated or institutional tone in contemporary usage. Modern speakers may choose conference call or videoconference according to the technology being used.
Easily confused with teleconference
A teleconference may use telephone or other telecommunications audio, whereas a videoconference includes live video as well as sound.