robocall

American  

[roh-boh-kawl] / ˈroʊ boʊˌkɔl /

noun

Digital Technology, Telecommunications.

1. a telephone call placed to large numbers of people by a computerized device that automatically dials the telephone numbers and plays a recorded message.

   Many but not all robocalls are illegal.

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Etymology

Origin of robocall

First recorded in 1990–95; robo- + call (in the sense “telephone call”)

Explanation

A robocall is a prerecorded call delivered by a computer. It's not really a phone call from a robot, even though that would be pretty cool! A robocall is a phone call made to lots of people by a computer, where the computer delivers a prerecorded message. If you get an automated phone call confirming a medical appointment, that's not a robocall; a robocall is often trying to convince you to vote for a political party or buy something. They're like a flyer, except by phone rather than through the mail.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

robocall

Today’s robocall ecosystem is global, digital and increasingly automated, allowing telemarketers and scammers to evade detection with ease using technologies the 35-year-old law never anticipated.

From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026

Kramer says he disagrees that his robocall suppressed turnout, noting that Biden won the Democratic primary by a wide margin as a write-in candidate.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 26, 2024

The state attorney general office announced this week that it had opened a criminal investigation into a Texas-based company it believes is behind the robocall.

From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 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

The school did send out a robocall about “Kah-den Boosh” missing one or more classes, because the automated voice can’t pronounce my name.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman