caller ID

Definition

A telecommunications feature that displays the phone number (and sometimes the name) of an incoming caller on a device or screen before the call is answered. It allows recipients to identify who is calling before they pick up.

Example Usage

Thanks to caller ID, I could see it was a spam call and didn't bother answering.

Origin

Developed in the 1980s and became commercially available in 1987, revolutionizing how people managed incoming calls.

Fun Fact

The introduction of caller ID sparked privacy concerns, leading some states to implement 'per-call blocking' allowing callers to hide their numbers.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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