answering service

noun

: a commercial service that answers telephone calls for its clients

Examples of answering service in a Sentence

The doctor is not in the office now, but you can reach her answering service at this number if you have an emergency.
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.
Americans annoyed by the service economy of the Carter and Reagan years yelled at answering services. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 An answering service for patients who call when the office isn’t open. Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024 Patients affected were provided with a hotline number to call with questions and concerns, which is an answering service that asks callers to leave a name and phone number. Melissa Brown, USA TODAY, 21 June 2023 Her clinic’s answering service called her three times while she was being diagnosed; her husband, Mike Becher, had to take away her phone. Oliver Whang Maddie McGarvey, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for answering service 

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of answering service was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near answering service

Cite this Entry

“Answering service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answering%20service. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

answering service

noun
: a commercial service that answers telephone calls for its clients
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