telecommute

verb

tele·​com·​mute ˈte-li-kə-ˌmyüt How to pronounce telecommute (audio)
telecommuted; telecommuting; telecommutes

intransitive verb

: to work at home by the use of an electronic linkup with a central office
telecommuter noun

Did you know?

Telecommute derives from the prefix tele-, a descendant of the Greek tele, meaning "far off," and the verb "commute," which arose from the Latin commutare, meaning "to change" or "to exchange." The practice of working at home and interfacing with the office via modem, telephone, or another telecommunications device has only recently become commonplace, but the word telecommute has been around since the mid-1970s. Its earliest documented use can be found in a January 1974 article in The Economist that predicted, "As there is no logical reason why the cost of telecommunication should vary with distance, quite a lot of people by the late 1980s will telecommute daily to their London offices while living on a Pacific island if they want to."

Examples of telecommute in a Sentence

The company now allows some of its employees to telecommute.
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.
Policies like flexible work arrangements, telecommuting and paid leave can mitigate job burnout and its associated costs. Ujjwal Ramtekkar, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Flexible Work Arrangements: Adapt policies to support work-life balance, such as flexible hours, telecommuting options and condensed workweeks, recognizing that fulfillment often stems from a healthy work-life integration. Anna Barnhill, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 People were urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit. Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 3 Sep. 2024 People are urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit. Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for telecommute 

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telecommute was in 1974

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near telecommute

Cite this Entry

“Telecommute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telecommute. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

telecommute

verb
tele·​com·​mute ˈtel-i-kə-ˌmyüt How to pronounce telecommute (audio)
: to work at home using an electronic link (as the Internet) with a central office
telecommuter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on telecommute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!