newswire

newswire — noun

1. a service or organization that gathers news stories and supplies them to newspap

1.nounB2
Definition

a service or organization that gathers news stories and supplies them to newspapers, television stations, and websites for publication or broadcast.

Example

The newswire reported that the prime minister would resign next week.

newswire + reported that-clause

Journalists at the city desk watched the newswire for breaking stories all night.

collocation: watch the newswire

Common collocations
  • newswire reports
  • newswire service
  • newswire feed
  • watch the newswire
  • check the newswire
  • over the newswire
  • on the newswire
Synonyms
  • news agency

    the most common general term; newswire often suggests the feed itself rather than the organization

  • wire service

    older synonym from the telegraph era, still used in journalism

  • press association

    often refers to a cooperative of newspapers sharing reporting resources

Grammar Patterns

newswire + verb (reports/says/carries)

on/over/via the newswire

Usage Note

Frequently modified by the name of the provider: 'Reuters newswire', 'AP newswire'. The term originally referred to telegraph wire transmission but now covers any electronic news feed.

Common Mistakes

I read a newswire about the earthquake.
I read a newswire report about the earthquake.
newswire refers to the service that distributes news, not to an individual article or story.

Word family

  • news
    nounA1
  • wire service
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Newswire, news agency, wire service, and press association all describe organizations or services that collect news and distribute it to other media outlets, but they differ in currency and scope. News agency is the broadest and most widely used term — it covers major operations like Reuters and the Associated Press. Newswire often emphasizes the continuous electronic feed of stories rather than the organization itself. Wire service is a slightly older term from the telegraph era, still common in journalism contexts. Press association frequently refers to a cooperative of newspapers that pool reporting resources, such as the PA in the UK. For example: 'She works for a global news agency' sounds neutral and professional, while 'the story arrived over the newswire' suggests a raw, unedited feed coming into a newsroom.

news agencywire servicepress association

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • newswire report
  • newswire service
  • newswire feed
  • international newswire

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishEnglish (compound)

Newswire is a compound of 'news' (from the late 1300s, meaning 'new information about recent events') and 'wire' (the telegraph wire). The term first appeared in the late 1800s, when news organizations used telegraph wires to send stories instantly across long distances, replacing mail and messenger services. Although the technology has changed, the name survives to describe any electronic news distribution service.