Meaning & use
robocaller
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableinformaldisapproving
A person, company or automated system that places large numbers of phone calls with recorded or computer-made messages, often unwanted.
Grammar: Takes an or the: a robocaller keeps ringing my phone.
Patterns
- block a robocaller
- report a robocaller
A robocaller kept calling me about my car's warranty.
The new app screens out known robocallers before they reach your phone.
Regulators fined the robocaller for making millions of illegal calls.
Word forms
| plural | robocallers |
|---|
Common combinations
- block a robocaller
- You can block a robocaller in your phone settings.
- report a robocaller
- She reported the robocaller to the consumer agency.
- illegal robocaller
- Illegal robocallers often fake the number they appear to call from.
- persistent robocaller
- A persistent robocaller phoned every evening at dinner time.
- fine a robocaller
- The authorities fined the robocaller heavily.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spam caller
- Spam caller is broader and may be a real person, while a robocaller uses automated or recorded messages.
- telemarketer
- A telemarketer sells by phone and may be a live person, whereas a robocaller can be selling, scamming or just informing.
- scammer
- A scammer deliberately tries to cheat people, while a robocaller may be legitimate or only annoying.
Word family
- robocall noun
- a phone call with a recorded message
- robocall verb
- to make such calls
- robocalling noun
- the practice of making such calls
- robo noun
- short for robot, used as a prefix
Commonly confused: robocaller or robocaller vs. telemarketer?
robocaller vs robocaller vs. telemarketer
A telemarketer may be a real person reading from a script, whereas a robocaller is automated.
Practice
When I answered the phone, a recorded voice offered me a cruise, so I knew it was a ___.
Choose one answer.
A robocaller uses recorded or automated messages. Operators, receptionists and telephonists are real people who handle calls in an office or exchange.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “robocaller”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.