wifi

Everyday

1. Wifi (also written Wi-Fi) is a way of connecting phones, tablets, computers and other devices to the internet or to each other without wires, using radio waves. tree →
2. In everyday talk, «the wifi» means the wireless internet connection in a place: «The wifi is down». tree →

In the lessons

In computing lessons, wifi is a wireless network that uses a router; pupils learn that data travels as radio signals. In online-safety lessons, children learn not to join unknown public wifi without an adult and to keep the wifi password private. In everyday life, «What's the wifi password?» is a common question. Phrases: «the wifi password», «free wifi», «connect to the wifi», «wifi signal».

Examples

• What's the wifi password? tree →
• The wifi isn't working, so I can't watch my show. tree →
• The cafe has free wifi. tree →
• My tablet connects to the wifi at school. tree →
• The wifi signal is weak in my bedroom. tree →
• Wifi sends information by radio waves. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «the wifi», not «a wifi». The official spelling is «Wi-Fi», but «wifi» is common. Pronounced WHY-fy. Wifi is not the same as the internet: wifi connects you to a router, which then connects to the internet.