voicemail

noun

voice·​mail ˈvȯis-ˌmāl 

variants or less commonly voice mail or voice-mail

plural voicemails also voice mails or voice-mails

1

: an electronic communication system in which spoken messages are recorded or digitized and stored for later playback by the intended recipient

left a message on the company's voicemail

let the call go to voicemail

I tried calling him twice but I only got his voicemail.

Most vehicles are equipped with hands-free technology for cellphones. However, hands-free does not mean distraction-free. Silence the unit while driving or set up an auto-response that sends calls directly to voicemail.

—Kevin Martin

a voice-mail system

voice-mail messages

2

a

: messages received through a voicemail system

checking her voicemail

b

: a voicemail message

listening to a voicemail

Examples of voicemail in a Sentence

Just leave a message on my voice mail.

I left her a voice mail.

You have two new voice mails.

Recent Examples on the Web

Deutch’s Jill leaves voicemails for her dead sister as a way of coping with the loss, but when the number is reassigned, connects with Robinson’s Austin who begins receiving the messages instead. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Jill is left to keep their sisterhood alive on her own by adding new messages to their extensive catalogue of voicemails sent to each other over the course of their young lives, leading to the deep love Wes forms for her over her messy and real revelations about life. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 22 June 2026

Arthur works with Zoey Deutch's character, Jill, an aspiring baker who leaves voicemails for her late sister, Isabelle, on her old phone number, believing it was discontinued. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026

Under the guidance of writer-director Leah McKendrick, the premise is all about voicemail mixups as its key device. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 June 2026

If your phone intercepts the call before Grasshopper intervenes, messages will go to your personal voicemail. —John Brandon, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026

Helinkski didn’t respond to a voicemail left at his law firm. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

Since then, prosecutors admitted in court filings that alleged ringleader Jimmy Gerodemos, not Ibrahim, left two threatening voicemails for Victim 1’s daughter. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026

The nonprofit also left voicemails with each litigator and the office’s general line that same day, the complaint said. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for voicemail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

voice mail

noun

: an electronic communication system in which spoken messages are recorded for later playback to the intended recipient

also : such a message