video doorbell

noun

plural video doorbells

: a small security camera that is designed for use on an exterior door, that includes or connects to a doorbell, and that often has a microphone and speaker : doorbell camera

Video doorbells are security cameras that are built into a doorbell.

—Consumer Reports

A video doorbell, sometimes called a doorbell camera, is an outdoor camera placed on someone's front door, either battery-powered or hardwired into an existing doorbell and chime setup. The user gets notified via a mobile app either when someone pushes the doorbell, or when the camera detects motion or a person, depending on its artificial intelligence capabilities.

—Aliza Vigderman and Gabe Turner

Examples of video doorbell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Apple Watch 10 is down to a new lowest price, which is impressive for a device that's only been out a few months, while the new Ring video doorbell is on sale for its Prime Day price. —Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024

Find it on Amazon Upgrade Home Security With This Advanced Smart Doorbell Safety and convenience combine with the video doorbell. —Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024

Still, the search capability marks a big upgrade for Ring, which over the past decade popularized home surveillance through its video doorbells and a growing suite of other security gadgets. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024

The panel also enables livestreaming of connected cameras to your TV, including pulling up a picture-in-picture notification when someone rings your video doorbell. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above