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

Griffitts did not respond to a voicemail or text seeking comment. —Emily Mahoney, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

That voicemail counts as one official entry, with one entry allowed per person. —Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

After an initial phone interview on Monday, Slaughter did not respond to a follow-up call or voicemail Wednesday seeking more details on his resignation. —Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 7 Jan. 2026

Instead of sitting on hold, people can leave a voicemail and specify a convenient time to receive a call back. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026

Anyone with information is asked to email Minneapolis police or leave a voicemail for them at 612-673-5845. —Nick Lentz, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025

About It podcast hosts and 50 were raised when the G-Unit rapper posted an alleged voicemail claiming Jim Jones owed money to the owner of the studio where Jim, Dave, Maino and Fab record their podcast. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 26 Dec. 2025

When a call to Santa is made from a mobile number, callers will receive a text with a link to a recording of the voicemail that was left for Santa. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

In September, former mayoral candidate Tom Dingwall wrote on his Facebook that, in August, Traill left him a voicemail, telling him not to run for mayor so a friend of hers could run unchallenged. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025

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