text message

noun

1. an electronic message sent over a cellular network from one cell phone to another by typing words, often in shortened form, as “l8t” for “late,” on the phone's numeric or QWERTY keypad.

text message

noun

1. a written message sent by means of a mobile phone

Word History and Origins

Origin of text message¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Dose of Roses sent out text messages and emailed customers to buy early, to avoid delivery delays due to Covid-19.

From Digiday

It handles registrations, creates vaccination schedules, informs the recipients through text messages, sends people to the right vaccination center, and also creates a vaccination certificate after they’ve received two doses.

From MIT Technology Review

When Magpayo was named acting head coach at UC Riverside, he received a text message from an unknown number.

From Washington Post

In both cases, the center was able to counsel the children over text message and dispatched emergency personnel.

From Fortune

That same year, Belarus-born Eugenia Kuyda digitally re-created her deceased best friend using text messages he had sent friends before dying in a car crash.

From Washington Post

At the same time, the Tasnim news agency, run by the IRGC, reported that ISIS is sending propaganda via text message inside Iran.

From The Daily Beast

Over the summer, the two had been in frequent—some sources say “daily”—contact by phone and text message.

From The Daily Beast

I had recently attended a wedding because a text message had referenced some questionable behavior.

From The Daily Beast

Solidifying his reputation as the one you wish had gotten away, Levine reportedly broke up with Simpson via text message.

From The Daily Beast

The sounds of text message and voicemail notifications were a clear indictor that we were back to reality.

From The Daily Beast

It will always precede and follow a cipher message or such part of a plain text message as is enciphered.

From Project Gutenberg