cold call

American  

noun

1. a visit or telephone call to a prospective customer without an appointment or a previous introduction.

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cold call British  

noun

1. a call made by a salesman on a potential customer without making an appointment

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verb

1. to call on (a potential customer) without making an appointment

Other Word Forms

• cold caller noun
• cold calling noun

Etymology

Origin of cold call

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Allan said he cannot remember whether he asked them to come, or whether it was a cold call.

From BBC

He’d never spoken to Wesley Yates III but was familiar enough with the guard from Beaumont, Texas, to cold call him in 2021 to offer a scholarship.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t have time to cold call all day,” said one real estate agent who asked to remain anonymous due to the potential taboo of using the technology.

From Los Angeles Times

Back then, Taylor received a cold call from the CEO of BMG, Hartwig Masuch.

From Salon

Did you just cold call her too, or did you know her previously?

From Salon