answering service

American  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of answering service

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

“We also had an answering service at the time. I’d do all my own billing.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2023

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

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

"We'll have our answering service up tomorrow," Jerry Carr replied in jest.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2021

He doesn’t have an answering service, and he said people are still shocked when he answers the office phone, “NeuCare, this is Dr. ‘

From Washington Times • Nov. 16, 2018

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

From Underground by Dreyfus, Suelette