call sign

American  

noun

1. call letters.

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call sign British  

noun

1. a group of letters and numbers identifying a radio transmitting station, esp an amateur radio station Compare call letters

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Etymology

Origin of call sign

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

The president, played by a breathy, beleaguered Idris Elba and known only by his call sign, “Icon,” is of indeterminate party and ideology.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

"It was my first injury," said Dmitry, who declined to give his last name and goes by the call sign "Barmak".

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Near the town of Hulyaipole, which the Russians have partly taken, a Ukrainian surveillance-drone pilot known by his call sign Kuts was flying his drone back to base to recharge its battery recently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Before entering Nigerian airspace, the Nigerian government instructed the pilots to use a Nigerian Air Force call sign "WT 001" to avoid any suspicion.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

They used her name as the call sign and Derek had shown Brian how to use the radio, the correct procedure in case of an emergency.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen