SMS

abbreviation or noun

ˌes-ˌem-ˈes 

: a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones

messages sent via SMS

—often used before another noun

Creative, colorful, and sometimes perplexing, emoji add energy to SMS messages.

—Christina Bonnington

also : a message sent using this technology : text message

… is helping to test a device that implants sensors in cows to let farmers know when they are in heat. When that is the case, the device sends an SMS to the farmer's phone.

—John Tagliabue

Examples of SMS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The malware can intercept SMS messages and notification content as well, giving attackers another way to capture one-time passwords and two-factor authentication codes. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Both participants receive an SMS notifying them of the match. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Unite's main dashboard is bright and colorful, with icons on the left-hand side of the screen for internal messages, SMS messages, video meetings, call history, and more. — John Brandon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Resolving Customer Friction Through SMS Create a zero-friction concierge and real-time resolution loop. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Short Message Service

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above