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

The paper reviewed text messages among three firefighters and a third party, sent in the weeks and months after the fire, in which they discussed the handling of the blaze.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The highly publicized indictment against Williamson was sprinkled with references to her phone calls and text messages, indicating that federal investigators were likely relying on wiretapping.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Yet I have yet to see any of those text messages.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I haven’t called him at all, but I did send these text messages today.

Read more on Salon

“I’m scared,” she wrote in a February 2022 text message to a colleague as they discussed the alleged money-laundering scheme, which was allegedly in the early planning stages.

Read more on Los Angeles Times