newscast

IPA/ˈnjuːzkɑːst/
KK[nˈuzkˌæst]IPA/ˈnuːzkæst/

newscast — noun

  • newscastsingular
  • newscastsplural

1. A television or radio programme that reports the main news stories of the day.

1.nounB1
Definition

A television or radio programme that reports the main news stories of the day.

Example

Elena always watches the evening newscast before making dinner.

collocation: evening newscast

The morning newscast reported heavy snowfall closing three schools in Osaka.

Common collocations
  • morning newscast
  • evening newscast
  • midday newscast
  • local newscast
  • watch the newscast
  • catch the newscast
Synonyms
  • news bulletin

    More common in British English; typically shorter and more frequent, e.g. hourly bulletins

  • news programme

    A broader term that can include discussion, interviews, and analysis alongside news reports

  • news broadcast

    Nearly synonymous; slightly more formal and can refer to a single news segment rather than a full programme

Usage Note

Primarily used in American English. In British English, 'news bulletin' or 'news programme' is more frequent for the same meaning.

Common Mistakes

I read the newscast this morning.
I watched the newscast this morning.
A newscast is a broadcast on TV or radio, not a printed text; you watch or listen to it, never read it.
The newscast paper arrived late.
The newspaper arrived late.
'Newscast' refers only to a broadcast programme, not to a printed publication.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words overlap with 'newscast' but differ in variety, scope, and format. 'News bulletin' is the preferred term in British English and typically refers to a short, scheduled summary of headlines — you might hear a two-minute bulletin every hour on the radio. 'News programme' is the broadest term: it covers any television or radio show centred on news, including long-form formats with interviews, panel discussions, and investigative segments. A 'news broadcast' is nearly identical to 'newscast' in meaning but carries a slightly more formal tone and can describe a single news segment within a larger programme, not necessarily a standalone show. For example, the BBC's hourly update is a 'news bulletin', a prime-time hour-long show with correspondents and features is a 'news programme', and a five-minute report aired during that show is a 'news broadcast' — while the entire half-hour evening slot on American network television is a 'newscast'.

news bulletinnews programmenews broadcast ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • morning/evening/midday newscast
  • local/national newscast
  • watch the newscast
  • catch the newscast

Prepositions

  • on the newscast

Etymology

English

Formed in the early twentieth century by blending 'news' and 'broadcast'. The word rose to common use with the expansion of radio news programming in the 1920s and later became firmly associated with television news as well.