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

The Wired Nest Doorbell isn't just your average video doorbell. —Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 18 July 2025

Jack made an emotional plea to his mom via their video doorbell. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Other wireless devices, like gaming consoles, tablets, video doorbells and more, will need their share of internet speed. —Kara McGinley, USA Today, 11 June 2025

Smart thermostats that learn our habits, video doorbells that recognize familiar faces, innovations that make our lives simpler and more comfortable while also saving money and resources with efficiency gains. —Shane Dyer, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for video doorbell

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