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

Brian Young, executive director of The Cumberland Rest, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2024

Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [e-mail]. —Life Kit, NPR, 27 June 2024

Later, a man left a voicemail with the store saying his credit card had been used to make an unauthorized purchase there. —Ethan Reese, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2024

The Enquirer left a voicemail with Cruz's attorney. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 26 June 2024

Emails to the Key Academy were apparently blocked by the school’s server and voicemails left at the school’s main office were not returned Monday. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024

Thompson said in one threatening voicemail, according to the letter. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 17 June 2024

In each of the four voicemails, Gaherty posed a violent threat and used profanity, as well as racist and misogynistic language. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 17 June 2024

The Enquirer has left a voicemail with the elder Hendon seeking comment from the family. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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