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
Welch’s office has repeatedly declined to comment on the situation, and calls to Benton have gone to a voicemail that does not allow for messages to be left.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Some calls end up going to voicemail, like the one left by Kyra, who hoped her message might reach someone who needed to hear it.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The Associated Press left a voicemail Friday for his public defender in the Iowa case.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Zdorovetskiy did not return voicemails or texts left by a reporter.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Within days of Kirk’s killing, outraged messages filled her office voicemail inbox and the restaurant faced a barrage of threatening calls and online harassment.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
Through home videos and voicemails, a young Filipino-American soccer player relives her team’s historic win — culminating in a return to her roots and a journey that is both personal and profound.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Behanan's laywer had not responded to a voicemail seeking comment at the time of this report.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 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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Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Some calls end up going to voicemail, like the one left by Kyra, who hoped her message might reach someone who needed to hear it.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The Associated Press left a voicemail Friday for his public defender in the Iowa case.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Zdorovetskiy did not return voicemails or texts left by a reporter.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Within days of Kirk’s killing, outraged messages filled her office voicemail inbox and the restaurant faced a barrage of threatening calls and online harassment.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
Through home videos and voicemails, a young Filipino-American soccer player relives her team’s historic win — culminating in a return to her roots and a journey that is both personal and profound.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Behanan's laywer had not responded to a voicemail seeking comment at the time of this report.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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