bulletin

bulletin — noun

1. a brief set of news items broadcast on radio or television, often soon after som

1.nounB2
Definition

a brief set of news items broadcast on radio or television, often soon after something important happens.

Example

The station interrupted the film with a bulletin about the bridge collapse.

bulletin about + event

Ravi listened to the noon farm bulletin before driving his tractor out.

bulletin on radio

Common collocations
  • weather bulletin
  • news bulletin
  • morning bulletin
  • late-night bulletin
Synonyms
  • newsflash

    more sudden and urgent, especially for breaking news

  • update

    less formal and not limited to radio or television

  • report

    usually longer and more detailed

Grammar Patterns

bulletin about + event

bulletin on + subject

Usage Note

Usually heard in broadcasting rather than everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense is a spoken or broadcast news item, not a printed publication from a group.

Common Mistakes

I read the evening bulletin on TV.
I watched the evening bulletin on TV.
this sense is broadcast, so people usually watch or listen to it.

2. a short official notice from an authority giving important information to the pu

2.nounC1
Definition

a short official notice from an authority giving important information to the public or a particular group.

Example

City Hall posted a bulletin about water cuts on every door.

bulletin about + issue

The ministry sent a bulletin to hospitals before the heat wave.

bulletin to + group

Common collocations
  • official bulletin
  • emergency bulletin
  • school bulletin
  • bulletin from the ministry
Synonyms
  • notice

    often shorter and more practical, especially when posted

  • statement

    can be longer and less urgent

  • communique

    more formal, often used for governments or diplomacy

Grammar Patterns

bulletin about + issue

bulletin from + authority

bulletin to + group

Usage Note

Subject is usually a government office, school, hospital, or other institution. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on the official notice itself, not a radio or TV news programme.

Common Mistakes

The school did a bulletin about the storm.
The school issued a bulletin about the storm.
institutions usually 'issue', 'send', or 'post' a bulletin.

3. a small printed paper that shares news from a club, company, school, or other gr

3.nounB2
Definition

a small printed paper that shares news from a club, company, school, or other group.

Example

The church bulletin listed Sunday's songs and volunteer jobs.

common collocation: church bulletin

After lunch, Mina folded the school bulletin with the sports schedule into her bag.

Common collocations
  • church bulletin
  • school bulletin
  • monthly bulletin
  • company bulletin
Synonyms
  • newsletter

    the most common modern word, especially for regular updates

  • circular

    more formal and often sent to many people with the same text

  • magazine

    usually longer and less brief than a bulletin

Grammar Patterns

monthly bulletin

bulletin for + members

Usage Note

Often modified by the name of the organization, such as 'church bulletin' or 'company bulletin'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is a regular printed publication, not a single urgent notice.

Common Mistakes

The club bulletin came on the radio.
The club bulletin came in the mail.
this sense is a printed publication from a group, not a broadcast.

bulletin — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'bulletin' is usually brief and immediate. It often brings fresh information on radio or television, or appears as a short official message from an institution. An 'update' is less formal and simply gives the newest stage of a situation, so apps, friends, and news sites can all give updates. A 'report' is usually fuller and more detailed, often after facts have been collected and checked. A 'notice' is often practical and written, telling people what they need to know or do, such as a school notice about closing early. So a channel may stop a film for a bulletin and later show a longer report. A hospital may post a notice for staff, while a website gives live updates through the day.

bulletin ↗update ↗report ↗notice ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • issue a bulletin
  • post a bulletin
  • read the bulletin
  • listen to a bulletin

Prepositions

  • bulletin about + event/topic
  • bulletin from + authority/group
  • bulletin on + subject
  • bulletin to + audience

Etymology

Medieval LatinFrenchEnglish

Bulletin came into English from French 'bulletin', meaning a short official paper. That French word grew from 'bulle', an official sealed document, which goes back to medieval Latin 'bulla', a round seal. Over time, the idea moved from the seal itself to the written message connected with it, and then to the modern sense of a brief news or official notice.