robocall

American  

[roh-boh-kawl] / ˈroʊ boʊˌkɔl /

noun

Digital Technology, Telecommunications.

1. a telephone call placed to large numbers of people by a computerized device that automatically dials the telephone numbers and plays a recorded message.

   Many but not all robocalls are illegal.

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Etymology

Origin of robocall

First recorded in 1990–95; robo- + call (in the sense “telephone call”)

Example Sentences

Insurance scams were at the top of the list of robocall complaints, the Federal Communications Commission said, and although they happen year-round, they tend to spike during open-enrollment season.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 10, 2025

Though the audio and video output is usually choppy and stilted, when the audio is delivered via a robocall it’s very believable.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2024

The state attorney general office announced this week that it had opened a criminal investigation into a Texas-based company it believes is behind the robocall.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

The New Hampshire attorney general's office said in a statement: "Although the voice in the robocall sounds like the voice of President Biden, this message appears to be artificially generated based on initial indications."

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024

The school did send out a robocall about “Kah-den Boosh” missing one or more classes, because the automated voice can’t pronounce my name.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman