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

Pay close attention to apps requesting permissions for screen access, call handling, or SMS messaging as these can be exploited by malware like FakeCall. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Further south, the Murcia regional government sent out an SMS alert telling Mazarrón residents to avoid certain areas as water levels are rising due to rains. —Atika Shubert, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024

Innings Festival and Extra Innings presales Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at inningsfestival.com/innings to get an access code for the Innings Festival presale that will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024

In the wake of Helene, SpaceX worked with T-Mobile to enable basic text messaging (SMS), allowing users in areas hit by hurricanes to text friends and family, text 911 and receive emergency alerts. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above