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
Kevin Martina 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
In mid-June the imposter contacted the ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress via the Signal messaging app and left voicemails for at least two of them.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
The Star-Telegram left voicemails with members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Kills and Spills Team, which investigates the effects of pollution incidents, but did not immediately get a response.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
The Enquirer left voicemails for the department's spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 10 July 2025
One month later, on March 24, 2024, the eve of the one year anniversary of The Covenant School shooting, McClure left a threatening voicemail on the main telephone line at CPA.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
Newsweek has contacted the PPD for comment via their voicemail.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Messages left by the Associated Press on Sunday by voicemail and on a Facebook page for the church were not immediately returned.
—Paul Sancya, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Phone plans include unlimited nationwide calling, Caller ID, three-way calling, call forwarding, voicemail and other features.
—Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 1 July 2025
The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman’s public defender in the state case.
—Colleen Slevin, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Bart Jansen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
The Star-Telegram left voicemails with members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Kills and Spills Team, which investigates the effects of pollution incidents, but did not immediately get a response.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
The Enquirer left voicemails for the department's spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 10 July 2025
One month later, on March 24, 2024, the eve of the one year anniversary of The Covenant School shooting, McClure left a threatening voicemail on the main telephone line at CPA.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
Newsweek has contacted the PPD for comment via their voicemail.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Messages left by the Associated Press on Sunday by voicemail and on a Facebook page for the church were not immediately returned.
—Paul Sancya, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Phone plans include unlimited nationwide calling, Caller ID, three-way calling, call forwarding, voicemail and other features.
—Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 1 July 2025
The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman’s public defender in the state case.
—Colleen Slevin, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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