autodial

or au·to-di·al

[ aw-toh-dahy-uhl, -dahyl ]

noun

1. a service feature whereby a telephone call is automatically made in response to a brief input signal from the user, as the pressing of a button:

   Any idea why my autodial no longer works after a new install or an update?

2. an automatic call made in this way:

   Each driver’s phone can be set to make an instant autodial to the office.

verb (used with object)

1. to call automatically, using autodial:

   I immediately autodialed my mom’s home phone and her cell phone, but there was no answer.

adjective

1. of or relating to autodial:

   autodial software.

Word History and Origins

Origin of autodial¹

First recorded in 1930–35; auto- ³( def ) + dial ( def )

Example Sentences

Federal Communications Commission had urged the court to uphold both the autodial ban and the government debt exemption.

From Reuters

The court’s 7-2 ruling, written by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was a defeat for political and polling organizations seeking to use autodial technology to contact the cellphones of potential voters.

From Reuters

About a dozen people were seated at long tables with computers programmed to autodial potential supporters, and Brenna Cavanaugh – Trump's Portsmouth, New Hampshire, co-chair – was trying to punch through.

From US News

This poses a problem for polling companies because the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act means that they can’t just autodial those cellphones.

From The Guardian

Not being able to autodial means that it is incredibly expensive and time-consuming for companies to poll those people.

From The Guardian