answering machine

noun

1. an electronic device that is attached to a telephone and that automatically answers callers with a prerecorded message and records their messages for later playback.

answering machine

noun

1. Also called: answerphone. In full: telephone answering machine. a device by means of which a telephone call is answered automatically and the caller enabled to leave a recorded message

Word History and Origins

Origin of answering machine¹

First recorded in 1975–80