voicemail

noun

voice·​mail ˈvȯis-ˌmāl How to pronounce voicemail (audio)
variants or less commonly voice mail or voice-mail
plural voicemails also voice mails or voice-mails
1
: an electronic communication system in which spoken messages are recorded or digitized and stored for later playback by the intended recipient
left a message on the company's voicemail
let the call go to voicemail
I tried calling him twice but I only got his voicemail.
Most vehicles are equipped with hands-free technology for cellphones. However, hands-free does not mean distraction-free. Silence the unit while driving or set up an auto-response that sends calls directly to voicemail.Kevin Martin
a voice-mail system
voice-mail messages
2
a
: messages received through a voicemail system
checking her voicemail
b
: a voicemail message
listening to a voicemail

Examples of voicemail in a Sentence

Just leave a message on my voice mail. I left her a voice mail. You have two new voice mails.
Recent Examples on the Web That conversation — along with two prior phone-call attempts and a voicemail message from the same juror — became part of a growing body of evidence in the post-verdict dispute. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 When a Utah teenager went missing, their voicemail change alerted family that something was awry, deputies say. Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 In the music video, the clip starts with the camera panning past multiple men as voicemail recordings simultaneously play with her suitors apologizing for jeopardizing their relationship with her. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 According to his charging documents, Nickels is accused of leaving a voicemail rife with violent threats to an election worker on Nov. 10, 2020. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Feb. 2024 No voicemail was set up on a telephone number listed for Harford. Amy Beth Hanson, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2024 Today’s top stories Housing and homelessness Robocalls, ringless voicemails and AI: Real estate enters the age of automation. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Comforting Memories: After a person dies, their digital scraps — text messages, emails, playlists and voicemails — are left behind. Amy Qin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 Greenfield received hundreds of threatening and harassing voicemail messages transcribed to 275 pages, Hollon said in a court filing. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'voicemail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of voicemail was in 1980

Dictionary Entries Near voicemail

Cite this Entry

“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

voice mail

noun
: an electronic communication system in which spoken messages are recorded for later playback to the intended recipient
also : such a message
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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