text message

American  

noun

• text messages
  plural

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.

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text message British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• text messages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of text message

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

text message

She said the pieces then fell into place, remembering that Woodhouse had once sent a text message about her to a former employee of the housing association.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

“FREE TICKETS,” screamed a text message sent out to people on a RNC donor list.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

It also warned, via text message, the central government's representation in Ceuta and the civil guard about the social media activity.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

“I never wanted this Forum deal. Always knew it was super shady,” Scott Sonnenberg, the Clippers’ chief commercial officer, wrote in a text message in 2022 describing the carbon-offset arrangement, according to the report.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Instead, I sent him a short text message, promising to call as soon as I could.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline