voicemail

noun

voice·​mail ˈvȯis-ˌmāl How to pronounce voicemail (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hurry Up Tomorrow opens with the Weeknd getting unceremoniously dumped via voicemail. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 May 2025 Newsweek reached out to Lawler's D.C. office via voicemail Wednesday for comment. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 The Star located a phone number for one of the directors, who didn’t return a voicemail seeking comment on Tuesday. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025 In a now-viral TikTok, Savannah Meyer shared a video of a voicemail that was left on her phone but wasn’t meant for her. Jordan Greene, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Loading your audio article HARTFORD — Like the love of baseball, this voicemail has become a family heirloom. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025 Although the call ended, so her best friend on the other side of the phone could call 911, Sardinha called back and left a voicemail, officials told KTLA. Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org. Marielle Segarra , Malaka Gharib, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025 Newsweek reached out to the Democratic Party House Judiciary Committee for comment via voicemail Monday afternoon. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of voicemail was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!