helpline
noun
help·line
ˈhelp-ˌlīn
Southern often ˈhep-
also ˈheəp-
variants
or less commonly help line
plural helplines also help lines
: a phone service providing help or assistance: such as
a
: a telephone service that is usually available to the public and that provides advice, support, resources, etc. for some specific purpose (such as crisis intervention)
a free/confidential/24-hour helpline
He's also a peer support specialist for DeQH, a helpline for South Asian LGBTQ people.—Rose Brennan
Calls to state addiction help lines have risen, as have alcohol use, drug overdoses and relapse rates, experts have said.—Steve Janoski
… helpline volunteers offer support and basic information, locate treatment options in your area, and can help you find answers to any questions you may have.—Radhika Menon
b
: a customer service line to provide support (such as technical support) for a product, service, etc.
Before making your purchase, phone the software vendor's customer helpline to make sure customer representatives are knowledgeable.—Eric Berg
A user's guide, software documentation, and telephone helpline are included.—Carol Tenopir
All week, Mata and other staffers have spent hours calling help lines set up by drug plan providers, only to get constant busy signals.—Nicole Foy
Cite this Entry
“Helpline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpline. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.
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