SMS

abbreviation or noun

ˌes-ˌem-ˈes 

: a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones

Although driven by teens and young adults who seemingly aren't satisfied with online instant messaging, SMS can be very useful for sending urgent messages to family members or co-workers.

—Consumer Reports

—often used before another noun

Creative, colorful, and sometimes perplexing, emoji add energy to SMS messages.

—Christina Bonnington

also : a message sent using this technology : text message

… is helping to test a device that implants sensors in cows to let farmers know when they are in heat. When that is the case, the device sends an SMS to the farmer's phone.

—John Tagliabue

Examples of SMS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many businesses struggle to respond to inquiries across platforms like websites, Facebook, and SMS. —Allbusiness, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Google plans to replace SMS codes with QR codes for account verification. —Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 25 Feb. 2025

That doesn’t just mean buying Instagram ads, either: Flyers, email marketing campaigns, SMS marketing platforms, search engine ads and influencer partnership fees are all part of marketing. —Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025

The warning echoes one issued a day earlier by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who said the state had heard from residents reporting receiving SMS text messages attempting to collect tolls. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above