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
Kevin Martina 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
According to police, a voicemail found on the suspect’s phone contained an unusual admission.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
In that press release, then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that intimidation tactics like the voicemail and allegedly increased doxing attempts would not be tolerated.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Notes were slipped under her dorm door, and people left her nasty voicemails, text messages, and emails.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Clips from podcasts or voicemail greetings are also sources for samples that can be used to generate realistic-sounding audio.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
The Ray County Sheriff’s Office didn’t respond to a voicemail requesting an interview on the audit.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Phone calls to the store went unanswered on Tuesday, and the business did not have a voicemail set up.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Let unknown numbers go to voicemail.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Jones said in a voicemail to Griffith, according to the affidavit.
—Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026
In that press release, then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that intimidation tactics like the voicemail and allegedly increased doxing attempts would not be tolerated.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Notes were slipped under her dorm door, and people left her nasty voicemails, text messages, and emails.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Clips from podcasts or voicemail greetings are also sources for samples that can be used to generate realistic-sounding audio.
—Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
The Ray County Sheriff’s Office didn’t respond to a voicemail requesting an interview on the audit.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Phone calls to the store went unanswered on Tuesday, and the business did not have a voicemail set up.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Let unknown numbers go to voicemail.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Jones said in a voicemail to Griffith, according to the affidavit.
—Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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