call sign

noun

: the combination of identifying letters, letters and numbers, or words assigned to an operator, office, activity, vehicle, or station for use in communication (as in the address of a message sent by radio)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web He was identified only by his call sign, Banger. The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2022 So maybe Orr — who died of accidental drowning years after moving to Austin for another sales job — came up with the winter playground slogan for WOAI, rather than the KTSA call sign for the competitor, and his contribution has been blurred with the static of time and memory. Paula Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2021 The spacecraft will send their sensor data, along with call signs and initials submitted by Kickstarter donors. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2014 Roman’s call sign — was dead, the voice said. Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 The technical adviser — Yank was his call sign — introduced me to all the Navy people. Julie Bloom, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Juice, who was given his call sign while training with the California Air National Guard in 2018 after repeatedly ordering juice instead of alcohol when out with his American comrades, said the Ukrainian pilots could be trained up on modern American planes in a three to six-month period. Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 27 June 2022 Boeing is modifying two of its 747-800 aircraft that will use the Air Force One call sign when the president is aboard. Darlene Superville, ajc, 11 Mar. 2023 As the war in Iraq ramped up eight months after U.S. troops invaded, Air Force One landed in Baghdad over the Thanksgiving weekend under a false call sign. Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'call sign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of call sign was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near call sign

Cite this Entry

“Call sign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20sign. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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