cold call

American  

noun

1. a visit or telephone call to a prospective customer without an appointment or a previous introduction.

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cold call British  

noun

1. a call made by a salesman on a potential customer without making an appointment

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verb

1. to call on (a potential customer) without making an appointment

Other Word Forms

• cold caller noun
• cold calling noun

Etymology

Origin of cold call

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“I don’t have time to cold call all day,” said one real estate agent who asked to remain anonymous due to the potential taboo of using the technology.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Did you just cold call her too, or did you know her previously?

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2023

“It’s not a cold call, but a quicker way to vulnerability and hitting the royal flush.”

From Washington Times • Mar. 23, 2023

Pelé was sitting by the pool, and the New York Cosmos general manager began the cold call that changed U.S. sports history.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2022

The company’s marketing manager, Rajesh Rao, told me that he had just made a cold call to the VP for engineering of a U.S. company, trying to drum up business.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman