wi-fi

IPA/ˈwaɪ.faɪ/
KK[wˈaɪfˌaɪ]IPA/ˈwaɪ.faɪ/

wi-fi — noun

1. a wireless system that lets phones, computers, and similar devices go online wit

1.nounA2
Definition

a wireless system that lets phones, computers, and similar devices go online without cables

Example

The cafe gives customers free wi-fi with every lunch order.

collocation: free wi-fi

Lakshmi connected to the hotel wi-fi before calling her parents upstairs.

connect to + wi-fi

Common collocations
  • free wi-fi
  • hotel wi-fi
  • library wi-fi
  • wi-fi password
  • wi-fi signal
  • wi-fi router
  • connect to wi-fi
  • use wi-fi
  • turn off wi-fi
  • public wi-fi
Synonyms
  • wifi

    same meaning; a common simplified spelling without the hyphen

  • wireless internet

    focuses on internet access rather than the local network setup

  • wireless network

    broader term that can include systems beyond internet access

Antonyms

Usage Note

Wi-fi is usually uncountable. It is also common before another noun, as in wi-fi password, wi-fi signal, or wi-fi router.

Common Mistakes

The airport has many wi-fis.
The airport has wi-fi.
wi-fi is usually uncountable when you mean the connection system.
What's the wi-fi?
What's the wi-fi password?
wi-fi is the network, not the password itself.

Word family

  • wifi
    nounA2
  • wi-fi-enabled
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Wi-fi and wifi mean the same thing, but wifi is a newer simplified spelling that often appears in everyday writing. Wireless internet focuses on the internet service you can use without cables, while wireless network is broader and can describe the local radio-based network itself, even when people are talking about printers or other devices rather than internet access.

wifi ↗wireless internetwireless network

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • connect to wi-fi
  • use wi-fi
  • turn on wi-fi
  • turn off wi-fi
  • share the wi-fi password

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

Wi-Fi began as a brand name created in 1999 by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It was shaped to sound like hi-fi, a familiar term for high-quality sound equipment. People later explained it as 'wireless fidelity', but the Alliance says the name was chosen as a catchy label rather than a true abbreviation.