SMS

abbreviation or noun

ˌes-ˌem-ˈes 

: a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones

Although driven by teens and young adults who seemingly aren't satisfied with online instant messaging, SMS can be very useful for sending urgent messages to family members or co-workers.

—Consumer Reports

—often used before another noun

Creative, colorful, and sometimes perplexing, emoji add energy to SMS messages.

—Christina Bonnington

also : a message sent using this technology : text message

… is helping to test a device that implants sensors in cows to let farmers know when they are in heat. When that is the case, the device sends an SMS to the farmer's phone.

—John Tagliabue

Examples of SMS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For more precision, the Pro Plan unlocks advanced features like custom HTTP status monitoring, cron job tracking, 5x faster down detection, and SMS alerts. —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025

It will be followed by a fan presale starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, during which fans can sign up for an SMS passcode to secure tickets to Ohana 2025. —Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2025

This solution integrates contact centers with operational systems, enabling both self-service and live agent support across channels like voice, chat, and SMS. —Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

This issue arises because Apple uses SMS/MMS to send messages to Android devices, which compresses images due to size limitations. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above