webcast

webcast — noun

1. a video or audio program, such as a concert, conference, or class, that is sent

1.nounB1
Definition

a video or audio program, such as a concert, conference, or class, that is sent over the internet so people can watch or listen to it, often while the event is taking place

Example

Lotte watched a live webcast of the tech conference from her home in Taipei.

live webcast of [event]

The medical conference was available as a free webcast for doctors around the world.

free webcast — adjective + noun pattern

Common collocations
  • watch a webcast
  • host a webcast
  • live webcast
  • free webcast
  • webcast of [event]
  • attend a webcast
Synonyms
  • livestream

    more common in everyday use; suggests real-time video shared on platforms like YouTube or Twitch

  • broadcast

    broader term; includes traditional TV and radio transmission, not just internet

  • stream

    current everyday equivalent; can refer to both live and on-demand video

Usage Note

Often used interchangeably with 'livestream', though 'webcast' tends to imply a more formal or professionally produced event (e.g. a conference keynote or corporate announcement), while 'stream' or 'livestream' is the everyday term for personal or casual content.

Common Mistakes

I downloaded a webcast to listen on my run.
I downloaded a podcast to listen on my run.
A webcast is typically a live or one-time broadcast; a podcast is an on-demand audio series you can download.
She webcasted her cooking class.
She livestreamed her cooking class.
'Webcast' as a verb sounds formal and technical; 'livestream' is the natural verb for casual personal content.

Word family

  • webcasting
    nounB2
  • webcaster
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to sending video or audio to an audience, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Broadcast' is the oldest and most general term, covering TV, radio, and internet transmission. 'Webcast' combines 'web' and 'broadcast' and is used for internet-only programming — especially formal events such as conferences, product launches, or graduation ceremonies. 'Livestream' has largely replaced 'webcast' in everyday conversation; it emphasises real-time video shared on social platforms. 'Stream' is the broadest modern term and can be either live or on-demand ('stream a movie', 'stream a concert'). In practice, a company might host a webcast of its annual meeting, while a teenager livestreams a gaming session — the dividing line is less about technology and more about context and register.

webcast ↗livestreambroadcast ↗stream ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • conference webcast
  • concert webcast
  • graduation webcast
  • lecture webcast

Phrases

  • live webcast
  • free webcast
  • webcast link

Prepositions

  • during a webcast
  • via webcast

Etymology

EnglishOld EnglishModern English

A blend of 'web' (short for World Wide Web, the global network of linked pages) and 'broadcast' (from Old English 'brād' — wide + 'cast' — to throw; originally referring to scattering seeds widely, later to transmitting radio or TV signals to a large audience). The term emerged in the mid-1990s as the internet became capable of transmitting audio and video to many viewers at once, combining the two concepts into a single word for internet-based transmission.