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 • Mar. 12, 2025

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

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2023

“It’s not a cold call, but a quicker way to vulnerability and hitting the royal flush.”

From Washington Times • Mar. 23, 2023

And if you have zero experience, cold call.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2023

The company’s marketing manager, Rajesh Rao, told me that he had just made a cold call to the VP for engineering of a U.S. company, trying to drum up business.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman