answering machine

American  

noun

• answering machines
  plural

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.

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answering machine British  

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• answering machines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of answering machine

First recorded in 1975–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

answering machine

Shortly before learning of her son’s demise, Maur receives a series of empty messages on her answering machine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

From the invention of the answering machine to caller ID, Hall said people “really enjoy” having the ability to control when, and whether, they answer the phone.

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026

DiBergi finds Tufnel working as a cheesemonger in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Smalls as the proprietor of London glue museum and St Hubbins living in Los Angeles making answering machine jingles.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025

Jeff adopted a stern, fatherly tone with his mom, which the documentary illustrates with the missives he left on her answering machine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2025

In Michael’s apartment, the Rosarios’ answering machine blinked with a single message.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

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