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

That’s because Scattered Spider has also been known to send fake SMS text messages impersonating login systems to phish employees. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 June 2025

And on that note, while SMS blasters might be a risk to users unlucky enough to find themselves in the vicinity of one, the real dangers remain network based. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Among other items, investigators spoke about an FAA rule that was not finalized until last year that expands requirements for aviation companies to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS). —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 June 2025

The platform examines multiple channels of communication, including calls, SMS, chats, emails, and video meetings, analyzing various factors such as response time, tone, sentiment, and performance trends. —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above