intermediate frequency

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in′terme′diate fre′quency, [Radio.]

1. Radio and Television the middle frequency in a superheterodyne receiver, at which most of the amplification takes place. Abbr.: if

• 1920–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intermediate frequency noun

1. the frequency to which the signal carrier frequency is changed in a superheterodyne receiver and at which most of the amplification takes place