indirect communication

USAGE SUMMARY

"indirect communication" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing ways of conveying messages that are not straightforward or explicit. For example, "Her indirect communication often left others confused about her true feelings." Alternative expressions include "implicit communication" and "subtle communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This allowed us to differentiate between direct communication with persons comprising this community and indirect communication through their published works.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

It can take the form of a face-to-face meeting, a community conference or indirect communication.

BBC

In the process, he devised a method of indirect communication, which involved the use of pseudonyms.

The New York Times

In Japan, where indirect communication is highly valued, cute illustrations have long played the role of tension-breakers and mediators in situations of conflict.

The New Yorker

"There was a sense, or some indirect communication, that they might be a willing seller," the governor said.

The New York Times

The bullying behavior has meaning, and is often an indirect communication that the student is trying to make others feel the way that he or she is feeling.

The New York Times

This subversive approach — "indirect communication" was the term he used repeatedly in "Concluding Unscientific Postscript" — was a way of saying: "Here is a secret that I cannot tell you — in fact, to say it outright would ruin it.

The New York Times

Talk about indirect communication: Yahoo! didn't turn Microsoft down to its face.

Forbes

Agent can also work as an environment that provides means of indirect communication.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

This process of indirect communication through the modification of the environment is called stigmergy [40].

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

This direct or indirect communication allows accessing the available resources in the IPTV network.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific or technical writing, specify the medium of communication (e.g. pheromone trails or data logs) to provide clarity to the reader.

Common error

Do not use "indirect communication" as a synonym for "miscommunication". While "indirect communication" is a functional, intentional strategy (as seen in swarm intelligence or diplomacy), "miscommunication" implies a breakdown where the message is lost or misinterpreted.

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as a compound noun phrase, consisting of the qualifying adjective "indirect" and the head noun "communication". In the data provided by Ludwig, it frequently serves as a direct object or the subject of a passive sentence, categorizing a specific modality of information exchange.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indirect communication" is a sophisticated and highly versatile term that spans the bridge between biological science and philosophical discourse. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used to describe systems of intelligence—both natural and artificial—that rely on environmental triggers rather than direct signals. In human contexts, it identifies a nuanced way of relating to truth or social harmony through inference. Whether you are discussing the pheromone trails of ants or the pseudonymous writings of Kierkegaard, using "indirect communication" provides a precise linguistic tool for describing messages that are 'shown' rather than 'told'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

implicit communication

Focuses on meanings that are implied rather than stated, often without environmental mediation.

subtle signaling

Emphasizes the use of non-obvious cues or hints to convey a message.

oblique messaging

Suggests a message that intentionally avoids a direct path to the recipient.

stigmergy

Specifically refers to indirect communication through environmental modification in biological or multi-agent systems.

high-context communication

A cultural studies term referring to communication that relies heavily on context and non-verbal cues.

mediated communication

Focuses on the presence of an intermediary tool or person rather than the lack of explicitness.

allusive language

Specifically refers to the use of references and hints within spoken or written text.

non-verbal communication

Restricts the mode to body language and gestures, whereas "indirect communication" can be written or environmental.

veiled remarks

Usually implies a hidden or disguised intent, often with a more negative or defensive connotation.

vicarious communication

Implies experiencing or relaying a message through the actions of another.

FAQs

What is the difference between direct and "indirect communication"?

Direct communication is explicit and leaves little room for interpretation, while "indirect communication" relies on context, hints or environmental modifications to convey a message.

Can I use "implicit communication" as a synonym?

Yes, "implicit communication" is a very close synonym, though "indirect communication" is more common when referring to biological systems or mediated technical environments.

Is "indirect communication" considered professional?

It is highly professional in scientific and academic registers. In business, it may describe a specific strategy like "oblique messaging" or subtle diplomacy.

How is "indirect communication" used in science?

In biology and robotics, it often refers to "stigmergy", where agents communicate by leaving traces in their environment for others to follow.