contactless en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English contact Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English contactless From contact + -less.
Meanings
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(not-comparable, of a delivery, of physical goods, qualifier:exchange, usually) That does not use or require contact in order to happen or operate. ▸ Conducted without human-to-human contact to improve ease of use or reduce the potential spread of a contagious disease; contact-free.
Contactless commerce, of which Amazon Go is at the extreme end, was of course already by the autumn of 2019 a growing trend, what with increasing numbers of self-checkout counters and websites and apps that allowed us to have everything from groceries to pet supplies to prescription medication delivered right to our doorsteps.
2020, Noreena Hertz, chapter 5, in The Lonely Century, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN:Please stay in touch with me / In this contactless society / Anywhere that you may be
2025, “The Hymn of the North”, in Jarvis Cocker (lyrics), More, performed by Pulp:
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(not-comparable, of transactions) That does not use or require contact in order to happen or operate. ▸ Happening without physical contact at the point of sale.
TfL has been saying for a few years that Oyster will eventually be withdrawn, but not until contactless payments can offer railcard discounts.
2019 October 23, Barry Doe, Rail, page 64:
- (not-comparable) That has no contact or contacts.
Coordinates
Deriveds
contactlessness · contactlessly · contactless card
Translations (10)
pl bezdotykowy (not needing contact) · de kontaktfrei (not needing contact) · da kontaktløs (not needing contact) · de kontaktlos (not needing contact) · de berührungslos (not needing contact) · cy digyffwrdd (not needing contact) · pl bezstykowy (not needing contact) · cmn 無接觸 /无接触 (not needing contact) · it contactless (not needing contact) · tr temassız (not needing contact)