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Definition of telephonist

telephonist

/təˈlɛfənɪst/
tel · e · phon · ist
Plural:telephonists
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telephonist Lexical Profile

telephonist Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A person whose job is to operate a telephone switchboard, answering incoming calls and connecting callers to the appropriate extensions or lines.

Example

"The hotel telephonist politely connected the guest's call to the front desk."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for telephonist

• Nearby Words

telephone
telephonic
telephonically
telephonist
telephoto
teleplay
teleport

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century from 'telephone' plus the agent suffix '-ist', modeled on earlier occupational terms like 'telegraphist'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Telephonist. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/telephonist
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