robocall

noun

ro·​bo·​call ˈrō-bō-ˌkȯl 

: a telephone call from an automated source that delivers a prerecorded message to a large number of people

robocall transitive verb

robocalled; robocalling; robocalls

Poor small-town America. During the last gasps of this fevered election, pollsters, zealous campaign foot soldiers and reporters are kicking down its doors, figuratively speaking, robocalling its citizens during suppertime …

—Doug Colligan

robocaller noun

plural robocallers

Now the only people who use the telephone are campaign robocallers and the phone company, dunning me to switch to their new wireless plan.

—Richard Brookhiser

robocalling noun

Business organizations have warned that legislative action against robocalling that defines the practice too broadly could prevent legitimate businesses from efficiently reaching their customers with relevant information.

—Colin A. Young

Examples of robocall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Deep fake audio through a robocall has been used in a presidential primary race in New Hampshire this election cycle. —Michelle Castillo, CNBC, 10 July 2024

Kramer also said that Phillips had nothing to do with the robocall. —Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 23 May 2024

The Federal Communications Commission this spring fined a political consultant $6 million for mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice in a campaign robocall in New Hampshire. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 1 July 2024

State Attorneys can prosecute anyone involved in the creation or distribution of a robocall. —Emily Price, PCMAG, 29 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

robot + -o- + call entry 2

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above