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area code
noun
: a usually 3-digit number that identifies a particular telephone service area in a country (such as the U.S. or Canada)
Examples of area code in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Right now, callers are routed to centers that match the three-digit area code of their phone number: Someone with a Baltimore phone number would be routed there, even if the person is in Sacramento.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
California had four of the nation’s top 10 places in terms of overall price hikes among 288 US area codes.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
This isn’t the first time she’s shown some love to Florida and the 305 (the area code of her ex husband’s hometown).
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
The podcast, which is a reference to the Orange County area code, recently received backlash on TikTok for a comment one of the hosts made about Asians outside of Southern California.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for area code
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'area code.' 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
1941, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near area code
Cite this Entry
“Area code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/area%20code. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
area code
noun
: a usually three-digit number that represents each telephone service area in a country (as the U.S. or Canada)
More from Merriam-Webster on area code
Nglish: Translation of area code for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about area code
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