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

Etymology

Origin of answering machine

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

answering machine

“For the safety of staff and the community, we’re keeping the store closed for the time being,” an employee said in a recording on its answering machine Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 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

When she got home from a movie with friends, Rebecca Hayter noticed a blinking light on her answering machine.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2025

Her answering machine message was recorded in the style of Snow.

From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2025

It rang a half dozen times on the other end before the Eberhardts’ answering machine picked up.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen