ringtone

American  

[ring-tohn] / ˈrɪŋˌtoʊn /

Or ring tone

1. the sound a cell phone makes when receiving a call or text message.

   Download the most popular rock music ringtones.

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ringtone British  

/ ˈrɪŋˌtəʊn /

noun

1. a musical tune played by a mobile phone when a call is received

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Etymology

Origin of ringtone

First recorded in 1980-85; ring ² + tone

Example Sentences

I listened to the ringtone as I waited for the person I’d phoned to pick up.

From The Wall Street Journal

Angela’s vivid mood swings are a wellspring of entertainment; Tommy associates her phone number with an orchestral ringtone that sounds like a horror movie jump scare.

From Salon

“Some kids have the most inappropriate ringtones, too. Kids play games on their watches instead of learning. Kids doom-scrolling during lunch, not socializing with their peers. This addiction is real.”

From Los Angeles Times

Every half hour, Wiley’s “Sweet Home Alabama” ringtone would go off with a resident asking if it was safe to come back.

From Los Angeles Times

It said Mossad specifically chose a ringtone which would sound urgent enough for someone to check in incoming message.

From BBC