Listservs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of mailing list that allows for the automatic distribution of emails to subscribers with shared interests
2. An online service that facilitates group communication by sending messages to members via email on specified topics
3. A platform enabling discussions among users by sending messages to a registered list of participants with common goals or interests

Etymology: "Listservs" is the plural of "listserv," which is a clipping of "listserver." The longer form combines "list" with "server," a computer that runs the software handling the mailing list. The shortened form keeps the first part of that compound and drops the rest, a common pattern for technical terms that get used constantly. The original idea is simple: one email sent to a single address is copied and forwarded automatically to everyone who has subscribed to the list. Subscribers can then share messages with people who care about the same topic, whether that is a hobby, a profession, or a shared interest among members of a group.

Synonyms: mailing lists