video doorbell

noun

plural video doorbells

: a small security camera that is designed for use on an exterior door, that includes or connects to a doorbell, and that often has a microphone and speaker : doorbell camera

Video doorbells are security cameras that are built into a doorbell.

—Consumer Reports

A video doorbell, sometimes called a doorbell camera, is an outdoor camera placed on someone's front door, either battery-powered or hardwired into an existing doorbell and chime setup. The user gets notified via a mobile app either when someone pushes the doorbell, or when the camera detects motion or a person, depending on its artificial intelligence capabilities.

—Aliza Vigderman and Gabe Turner

Examples of video doorbell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This fantastic video doorbell is great for homeowners, apartment dwellers, or anyone looking to keep tabs on both visitors and deliveries. —Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 16 June 2026

Chargers for smart home devices such as security cameras, video doorbells, and low-voltage lighting must remain powered and plugged in, recommends Heine. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 11 June 2026

More recently, the desire for security features such as video doorbells and burglar alarms has helped make homes seem less welcoming to outsiders. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

The Fulu Foundation, a non-profit advocating consumer rights, is offering a $24,000 bounty to any hacker who can find a simple way to cut Ring video doorbells’ persistent connection to Amazon, and therefore any law enforcement agency Amazon cooperates with. —Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for video doorbell

• mademoiselle
• materiel
• subparallel
• antiparallel
• antipersonnel
• bagatelle
• calomel
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele