A satellite dish is a parabolic plate or bowl pointed at the sky and mounted on or near a structure or other object for reception or transmission of microwave communication signals to or from satellites in orbit around the Earth. These are commonly used on homes and other building types to pick up additional television channels or radio stations; they can also be used at broadcast stations, military buildings, etc. to send signals via satellite.

If the only satellite dishes on a structure are protected by radomes, then the latter is assigned as a feature and not a satellite dish. In other words, the dish must be visible from the exterior to be assigned to a structure.

The dish communicates with satellites through its sky-directed parabolic form. The visibility requirement distinguishes a visible dish from one concealed by a radome; the protective enclosure remains the visible mechanical feature in that case.