telephonist

noun

te·​le·​pho·​nist tə-ˈle-fə-nist How to pronounce telephonist (audio) ˈte-lə-ˌfō-nist How to pronounce telephonist (audio)
British
: a telephone switchboard operator

Examples of telephonist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It was thus left to his mother, Margaret, who worked as a telephonist, to bring up the family. Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telephonist was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near telephonist

Cite this Entry

“Telephonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephonist. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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