How is feedback defined in communication?

• A. The initial message from the sender.
• B. The response to a sender's message from the receiver.
• C. A nonverbal gesture with no meaning.
• D. A barrier to communication.

Answer: (B)

Feedback is the receiver's response to a message, completing the communication loop. It can be spoken, written, or shown through nonverbal cues like nodding or facial expressions, and it signals whether the message was understood, needs clarification, or should be adjusted. This response helps the sender know if the communication achieved its purpose and what to do next.

Think of feedback as the check-in that follows a message: it confirms understanding, highlights confusion, and guides adjustments. The initial message is what the sender transmits, while feedback provides the receiver’s reaction to that message. A nonverbal gesture with no meaning isn’t feedback, and a barrier to communication is something that obstructs the message, not the response.