Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Mid-century: TV and science ·1939
Telegenic
television photogenic
- Meaning
- Looking or performing well on television.
- Source words
- television + photogenic
- Coined by
- unknown
- Year
- 1939
Background
Coined by US television industry writers as the medium approached commercial debut. The 1960 Kennedy–Nixon debate made the word politically consequential — Kennedy was seen as the more telegenic candidate.
Mid-century: TV and science
Two engines dominated: television (sitcom, televangelist) and post-war big science (pulsar, transistor). Many mid-century coinages came from scientific style sheets and industry journals.
Two words, one coinage.
Browse every portmanteau on the shelf — or cross over to the loanwords atlas.