modem
modem Lexical Profile
modem Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An electronic device that modulates digital data into analog signals for transmission over telecommunication lines, and demodulates incoming analog signals back into digital data.
"The technician arrived to upgrade our cable modem, which immediately resolved the latency issues with our home internet connection."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although technically distinct, the term 'modem' is frequently conflated with 'router' in casual usage; however, a modem acts as the bridge connecting a local network to the internet provider, whereas a router directs traffic between the local devices themselves.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 1950s as a portmanteau of the words 'modulator' and 'demodulator', reflecting the device's core function.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.