- a system of one or more microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers for increasing the sound level of speech or music, used in auditoriums, public gatherings, etcSometimes shortened to: PA system
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pub′lic-ad•dress′ sys′tem
(pub′lik ə dres′),USA pronunciation
- Sound Reproductiona combination of electronic devices that makes sound audible via loudspeakers to many people, as in an auditorium or out of doors. Also called PA system, P.A. system, p.a. system.
- 1920–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
public-address system n
'public address system' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
horn
- PA
- PA system
- public-address system
- sound system
- Tannoy
- acoustic feedback
- squawk box