caller ID

American

[kaw-ler] / ˈkɔ lər /

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of caller ID

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From MarketWatch • Nov. 10, 2025

Ofcom advises people not to trust the caller ID display on their phone when trying to avoid scams.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2024

The caller ID read “LA Cor,” sending his heart racing.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2024

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

From Salon • Jan. 22, 2024

After a while, my phone played “The Flight of the Bumblebee,” so I looked at the caller ID.

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023