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

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.

This system effectively blocks unregistered SMS senders, significantly reducing impersonation scams. —

Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025 The operation is the US’s latest attempt to crack down on scammers who use SMS texts, social media, and the internet to build rapport with unsuspecting users and trick them into investing in fake cryptocurrency. —

Michael Kan, PCMAG, 13 Feb. 2025 Some people prefer email, some respond better to SMS. —

Fairchild Studio, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025 In the early days of Russia's invasion into Ukraine, Ukrainian Cyber Police investigated a wave of fake SMS messages claiming ATMs were down. —

Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for SMS