voicemail

noun

voice·​mail ˈvȯis-ˌmāl How to pronounce voicemail (audio)
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
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.
Anyone with information is asked to either call the Minneapolis Police Department at 612-673-5845 and leave a voicemail or email the agency here. Nick Lentz, CBS News, 19 May 2026 Storley, 33, who won his latest fight on May 2, did not respond to a voicemail left on his cellphone by the Miami Herald, and his management company did not return a request for comments. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 Just be aware that calls from people not in your contacts may go straight to voicemail. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026 Gray shook his head in mock frustration and gestured at his phone as the call went to Johansson’s voicemail. Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026 Tiger’s business phone number was not accepting voicemails Thursday. Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026 There’s also a number shown in the schedule-release video (1-888-343-6642) that connects fans to gifts and voicemails from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, wide receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Kelce. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026 Scrolling SoundCloud the other week, I was reminded of the Blackberry arguments, email apologies, and voicemail serenades of the Heartbreak Drake era. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 14 May 2026 New York attorney Todd Duffy, who filed the suit late Tuesday on the employees’ behalf, did not immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment. David Lyons, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of voicemail was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Voicemail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voicemail. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster