What does "podcast" mean?
A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones.
Podcast
/ˈpɒdˌkɑːst/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones.
- Grammar: podcast is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: audio production, audio program, audio series, broadcast.
- Useful contrasts: live broadcast, live broadcasting, print article.
- Usage evidence: That’s the main thing that I do, and of course off that I have a YouTube channel where I make videos of various things. I have a podcast as well.
How to use "podcast"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "podcast" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "podcast" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "podcast" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "podcast" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "podcast" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "audio production" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "podcast", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones.
"There's no restriction for what a podcast should and should not be. Of course, if you cover all these topics and more, you may find it harder to find an audience than if you focus on a narrower range and cover it well. Finding listeners is simpler if your podcast can be summarized in a sentence. More people will sample your show if it fits in a category in a podcast directory—like that found in the iTunes Store—than if it ends up lumped in a generic catch-all list."
- 2 a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player wordnet
- 3 An individual episode of such a program. broadly
Verb
- 1 To deliver (information) in the form of a program, especially an audio program, over the Internet on a regular basis for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones. transitive
- 2 distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal computer wordnet
- 3 To deliver a program, especially an audio program, over the Internet on a regular basis for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones. intransitive
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
live broadcastlive broadcastingprint articleprint publishing
Example
"That’s the main thing that I do, and of course off that I have a YouTube channel where I make videos of various things. I have a podcast as well."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "podcast"?
Common synonyms include: audio production, audio program, audio series, broadcast, digital audio file, online program.
How do you use "podcast" in a sentence?
That’s the main thing that I do, and of course off that I have a YouTube channel where I make videos of various things. I have a podcast as well.
How do you pronounce "podcast"?
Pronounced /ˈpɒdˌkɑːst/.
Etymology
Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *ənter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Proto-Indo-European *neHd- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *natją Proto-West Germanic *nati Old English nett Middle English net English net Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Middle English werk English work English network English internetwork English Internet English i- English pod English iPod Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-der.? Proto-Germanic *braidaz Proto-West Germanic *braid Old English brād Middle English brod English broad Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast English broadcast blend English podcast Blend of iPod (“portable music player made by Apple”) + broadcast, probably coined by the British technologist and broadcaster Ben Hammersley (born 1976) who proposed the word podcasting in 2004.