Definition

A person who operates a telephone switchboard or manages telephone calls.

Example

The telephonist connected the call to the right department.

Conversation

Do you remember that old movie about a telephonist?

Yeah, it was interesting to see how they managed calls back then.

I couldn't believe how much work a telephonist had to do.

Right? It’s amazing how technology has changed since then.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Telephonist → It is formed from "tele-" (from Greek "tēle", meaning far) and "phone" (from Greek "phōnē", meaning voice or sound) with the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). A telephonist is one who works with sound or voice over a distance, typically in the context of telephone communication.

Memory Tip

Think of 'far' ('tele-') and 'voice' ('phone') to remember that a telephonist is someone who communicates voices over long distances.

Visually Confused Words