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

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

As Renn moves his way through the airport to head back home to Cleveland, a series of voicemails effectively inform audiences of where things stand for him. —Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024

Some features, like the ones that transcribe phone calls and voicemails or summarize text, will be available early on. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 6 Aug. 2024

Cody did not return a voicemail seeking comment from NBC News. —Austin Mullen, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024

The woman, whom CNN is not naming, did not return a voicemail on Saturday afternoon looking for comment. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2024

Britton-Harr did not respond to a phone call and voicemail seeking comment Friday. —Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024

And when callers were automatically prompted to leave a voicemail, those messages were rarely returned: Of the 38 messages left by researchers across nine counties, six received a return call in a total of three counties. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024

Tribal officials worry about accidents After Nygren deployed police, Energy Fuels left a voicemail for Stephen Etcitty, the director of the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency, about a meeting scheduled to develop transportation plans for the uranium ore through the Navajo Nation. —Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2024

The Enquirer on Monday afternoon left a voicemail with the Raleighs' attorney, Merlyn Shiverdecker, and is awaiting a response. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 15 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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