caller ID

American  

[kaw-ler] / ˈkɔ lər /

noun

1. a telephone service that allows a subscriber to identify a caller before answering by displaying the caller's telephone number on a small screen.

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Etymology

Origin of caller ID

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Never rely on caller ID alone, the Federal Trade Commission warned.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 10, 2025

NBC reported that Sullivan's personal cell phone number appeared in the caller ID of those receiving the robocall.

From Salon • Jan. 22, 2024

Ofcom has warned against relying on caller ID to tell if calls are legitimate.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2024

“Phone scams often use spoofing techniques to deliberately falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity or make the call appear to be official,” it said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023

The phone stops ringing as she brings it closer to her face to read the caller ID.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone