SMS

abbreviation or noun

ˌes-ˌem-ˈes 

: a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones

messages sent via SMS

—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

Zapier supports some mobile functionality, such as SMS messaging, but not much. — Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 23 July 2026

Stories were told in chapters the length of an SMS message, meaning that in each installment, writers had about 70-100 words at their disposal and, critically, carte blanche on their arrangement (line breaks and ellipses did a lot of heavy lifting). — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

At the time of the 3210 and 3310, the prevailing texting standard was SMS (short message service), which allowed up to 160 characters per message. — IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 2026

The collection of PACs has spent additional millions on TV and streaming ads, SMS text messages and mailers, Federal Election Commission filings show. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above