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 Further, the day before the shooting, a teacher left Jennifer Crumbley a voicemail saying that her son had been looking at bullets on his phone in class. Eric Levenson, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org. Emily Siner, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 The deluge of demand is reflected in the bakery’s voicemail message. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024 An attorney listed as representing Ross did not immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment after business hours Wednesday evening. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 And no one responded to voicemails and requests for comment. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 Battle’s attorney, Jason Silverstein, did not respond immediately to a voicemail and email seeking comment Wednesday. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 Just ask a member of today’s Gen Z set about the rules of etiquette surrounding iPhone communication (always text before ever before attempting a call, and never — absolutely never — leave a voicemail). Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 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

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 28 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!