video
/ˈvɪd.i.əʊ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A recording or live moving image with sound, or the file that contains it. It is used for entertainment, learning, news, and communication.
- I watched a short video on cooking.
- Please send the video by email.
- This app lets you record videos.
adjective
Related to moving images shown on a screen. It often describes equipment, calls, or content.
- We had a video call yesterday.
- The video quality is very clear.
- She works in video editing.
Adinary Nuance
Video is the broad word for moving images on a screen or in a file. Clip is usually shorter, and movie is usually a longer film. In business or school English, video is the safest general choice.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- video
- Spanish
- video
- Chinese
- 视频
- Japanese
- 動画
- Korean
- 비디오
Etymology
Video came into English in the 1930s from Latin, where it means “I see.” It became common with television, recording, and digital media.
Common phrases
video callvideo clipvideo recordingvideo quality
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is video countable or uncountable?
- Both. You can say “a video” or “videos” when counting them.
- What is the difference between video and clip?
- A clip is usually shorter. A video can be short or long.
- Can I say video for online classes?
- Yes. You can say “a lesson video” or “video lessons.”
- Is video formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in both speaking and writing.