answering service

American  

noun

1. a service providing operators who answer a subscriber's telephone and take messages when the subscriber does not answer.

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Etymology

Origin of answering service

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

A chip shop manager said he has programmed an AI answering service to take orders in a bid to cut costs.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2025

This is an answering service and they will forward the contact to the Crisis and Commitment office and place it on the call log.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2022

The same phone number is listed for all of them, and it goes to an answering service.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

Prehn didn’t respond to a message left with his answering service Friday afternoon.

From Washington Times • Jul. 24, 2020

Eventually a company representative or answering service picked up the call.

From Underground by Dreyfus, Suelette