area code

noun

: a usually 3-digit number that identifies a particular telephone service area in a country (such as the U.S. or Canada)

Examples of area code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is exciting for the city, exciting for North Crowley, and everybody in the 817 area code. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026

Nectar Triantis should be tapping in other area codes for the long-distance goals the central midfielder has scored for Minnesota United. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2026

However, only 86 area codes were actually assigned — with New Jersey receiving the first one, 201. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026

Before the 305 was Miami’s baby, the area code was used by all of Florida from the Keys to Tallahassee. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for area code

• afterload
• episode
• internode
• microcode
• multimode
• nematode
• nesselrode
• overflowed
• overload
• overrode
• radioed
• torpedoed

Kids Definition

area code

noun

: a usually three-digit number that represents each telephone service area in a country (as the U.S. or Canada)