telemarketing

American  

[tel-uh-mahr-ki-ting] / ˈtɛl əˌmɑr kɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. selling or advertising by telephone.

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telemarketing British  

/ ˈtɛlɪˌmɑːkɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. another name for telesales

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Other Word Forms

• telemarketer noun

Etymology

Origin of telemarketing

tele- ¹ + marketing

Explanation

While many people may simply define telemarketing as annoying, it’s actually the practice of companies calling to promote or sell products and services over the phone — often just when you’re about to sit down for dinner. The word telemarketing combines the prefix tele-, meaning "distant," with the word marketing, to describe the practice of selling products or services over the phone. Telemarketers reach out to potential customers, offering deals, promotions, or information about new products, often during the most inconvenient times. While some find it annoying, telemarketing has been a common sales tactic since the 20th century, allowing businesses to connect directly with consumers.

Example Sentences

Between cleaning houses and telemarketing, she started watching local stand-up for laughs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2024

Consumer complaints about prerecorded robocall scams and unwanted live telemarketing calls targeting seniors have fallen to a five-year low, with major drops the last year, according to federal data released Friday.

From Washington Times • Nov. 3, 2023

As if we’d get our claws into anyone via video telemarketing.

From Slate • Oct. 28, 2023

For some reason, he decides he needs to wear sunglasses in all of his in-person interviews as if to mimic the conversational barrier his telemarketing phone once provided.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2023

This can be anything from a friend or relative who has an unlisted number to a telemarketing company trying to hide their information.

From Encyclopedia.com • Mar. 1, 2018