videophone

IPA/ˈvɪdiəʊfəʊn/
KK[vˈɪdiofˌon]IPA/ˈvɪdiəʊfəʊn/

videophone — noun

  • videophonesingular
  • videophonesplural

1. A communication tool with a built-in screen and camera, used for phone calls whe

1.nounB2
Definition

A communication tool with a built-in screen and camera, used for phone calls where both people can see each other's faces and movements in real time.

Example

Gabriel called his grandmother on a videophone so she could see her new great-grandson.

The doctor used a videophone to check the patient's wound from a remote clinic.

used in professional telemedicine contexts

Common collocations
  • videophone call
  • videophone system
  • videophone technology
  • videophone conversation
  • built-in videophone
  • desktop videophone
Synonyms
  • video phone

    same meaning; written as two separate words rather than one

  • picture phone

    older term for the same concept, used mainly from the 1960s to the 1980s

Grammar Patterns

a/the videophone

videophone + noun (videophone call / videophone system)

Usage Note

In modern daily conversation, native speakers often say 'video call' (the activity) or use app names such as FaceTime or Zoom. 'Videophone' typically refers to the physical device rather than the software feature.

Common Mistakes

She recorded the whole party on her videophone.
She recorded the whole party on her video camera.
a videophone is for two-way live conversation, not for independently recording footage.
My laptop has a built-in videophone.
My laptop has a built-in webcam.
a videophone is a complete device with phone and screen, whereas a webcam is just a camera that sends images to a computer.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Videophone, video phone, video call, and picture phone all relate to seeing someone while talking at a distance, but they differ in form and use. A videophone (or video phone) is a physical device — a dedicated telephone with a screen and camera for two-way video conversations. A video call is the activity itself, not the device ('I made a video call using my smartphone'). Picture phone is an older, largely historical term that referred to early videophone prototypes from the 1960s to the 1980s. In everyday modern English, people are far more likely to say 'Let's video call' or use app names (FaceTime, Zoom, Skype) than to mention a 'videophone,' which now sounds somewhat dated or technical.

videophone ↗video phonevideo call ↗picture phone

Common collocations

Nouns

  • videophone call
  • videophone system
  • videophone technology
  • videophone conversation
  • videophone device

Phrases

  • over the videophone
  • videophone in the hallway
  • built-in videophone

Prepositions

  • on a videophone
  • via videophone
  • with a videophone

Etymology

LatinAncient GreekEnglish

Formed in the mid-20th century by combining 'video-' (from Latin 'videre', meaning 'to see') and 'phone' (from Ancient Greek 'phōnē', meaning 'sound' or 'voice'). Early prototypes appeared at the 1964 New York World's Fair, though practical household use did not become common until digital compression technology advanced in the 1990s.