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

Gadd previously said that the ‘real’ Martha sent him more than 40,000 emails and 350 hours of voicemails, but Harvey told Piers Morgan on his Uncensored chat show this was untrue. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2024

The Free Press left a voicemail for Skies Above Media seeking comment. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 13 Sep. 2024

Fake social media profiles that spread propaganda can be created cheaply; political parties can use AI to quickly send personalized messages to thousands of potential voters; and fake event photography and even voicemails that sound like celebrities can be put together easily. —Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024

For example, a receptionist on duty may not want AI to help process voicemails. —Ryan Miller, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

She, who’s been running a guest house back home in Korea since your father passed, and leaves you an inordinate number of voicemails trying to match you with any handsome visiting Canadians. —Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024

Capers did not respond to Axios' voicemail and messages on social media seeking comment. —Annalise Frank, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024

Julie Pederson, Millette's attorney, did not respond to a voicemail from The Enquirer seeking comment prior to publication. —Killian Baarlaer, The Enquirer, 8 Aug. 2024

Ben says as much in a voicemail that Kristen misses, because George is torturing her in her sleep again. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 1 Aug. 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