telemarketer

American  

[tel-uh-mahr-ki-ter] / ˈtɛl əˌmɑr kɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who sells, advertises, or fund-raises through usually unsolicited telephone calls.

   How can I avoid being overwhelmed by telemarketers and marketing mail?

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Etymology

Origin of telemarketer

telemarket(ing) ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Other declines are still unfolding: Counter-clerk employment dropped by 30% between 2015 and 2023 as kiosks and then apps took over; telemarketer jobs fell 75% as the web provided new channels for outreach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

Around the speech’s 13-minute mark, addressing the outrage over the Alabama ruling, Britt veered into a telemarketer vibe, reminiscent of commercials where salespeople urge viewers to call the number on the screen.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2024

Han Junghee, a 63-year-old telemarketer, said the sky appeared to be getting murkier by the day so she has been avoiding exercise outdoors.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2023

Eventually, she quit her job as a telemarketer and moved to Los Angeles to devote herself to music full-time.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2023

But it was a telemarketer, a young, male American who was offering better long-distance and international phone rates.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie