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

Fans will have had to sign up in advance to receive a presale passcode via SMS or email (or both). — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 June 2026

For teams running basic SMS text sequences alongside their emails, the dashboard cleanly displays standard outbound texting volume and success metrics alongside email data, keeping your primary communication channels clear and measurable. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 22 June 2026

In addition to the alert through the Cellbroadcast platform, residents of the city of São Paulo also reported receiving a message with the same content via SMS. — Mariana Catacci, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

Instead of wrestling with fragmented software setups, companies can now deploy these tools seamlessly across voice, chat, email and SMS channels. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above