collect call

American  

noun

1. a long-distance telephone call that is to be paid for by the person or station receiving it.

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Etymology

Origin of collect call

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Although her children could be heard in the background of a March 20 collect call obtained by People, she referenced them being taken from her custody in another call two days later.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

A teaser for director Geno McDermott’s film opens with chilling audio of a collect call Hernandez made to his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2019

At long last, my client was allowed to make a tearful, five-minute collect call to his wife, in which he confirmed that he was alive and that he would be deported the next day.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2017

Lydia: On this we certainly agree: That glimpse of Jessa and Shoshanna watching “Scandal” and failing to accept a collect call from Hannah was not nearly enough of the girls for me.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2015

A few days after my uncle was buried, I was finally able to make a collect call to Laura.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Related Words

• local call
• long-distance call
• phone call
• telephone conversation