ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dead air

Dead air is a space where there is no sound at all. You know how sometimes you might be in a room or outside and it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop? That's what people mean when they say "dead air." There's just no noise whatsoever.

Sometimes, people on TV or the radio might also use the term "dead air" to talk about a moment where nothing is being said. This could happen because someone forgot to turn their microphone on or if there's a technical problem with the equipment.

In summary, dead air is a place or a moment where there is complete silence, and it can happen in real life or on the radio or TV.
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