Fax vs. Facsimile — What's the Difference?

Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telecopying or telefax (the latter short for telefacsimile), is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output device. The original document is scanned with a fax machine (or a telecopier), which processes the contents (text or images) as a single fixed graphic image, converting it into a bitmap, and then transmitting it through the telephone system in the form of audio-frequency tones.

A facsimile (from Latin fac simile, "to make alike") is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source as accurately as possible in scale, color, condition, and other material qualities.

A fax machine.

An exact copy or reproduction, as of a document.

A document transmitted or received by a fax machine. In both senses also called facsimile.

See fax.

To transmit (a document) by a fax machine.

Of or used to produce exact reproductions, as of documents.

The hair of the head.

Exactly reproduced; duplicate.

Senseid|en|machine}} {{ellipsis of fax machine

(countable) A copy or reproduction.

A document sent, or received and printed by a fax machine

(uncountable) Reproduction in the exact form as the original.

To send a document via a fax machine.

A fax, a machine for making and sending copies of printed material and images via radio or telephone network.

Alt form of facts.

The image sent by the machine itself.

Duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio

(transitive) To send via a facsimile machine; to fax.

Send something via a facsimile machine;

(transitive) To make a copy of; to reproduce.

A copy of anything made, either so as to be deceptive or so as to give every part and detail of the original; an exact copy or likeness.

To make a facsimile of.

An exact copy or reproduction

Duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio

Send something via a facsimile machine;