area code

noun

: a usually 3-digit number that identifies a particular telephone service area in a country (such as the U.S. or Canada)

Examples of area code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is why a nearby area code can be so misleading. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026 And that was before entering the actual dining space, which seemed to extend to another area code. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 May 2026 One text was sent from a 737 area code, which serves Austin, Texas, and its surrounding suburbs, not Detroit. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 23 Mar. 2026 However, workers at the non-profit noticed an Iowa area code on her collar, which prompted them to make a social media post to search for her family. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for area code

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of area code was in 1941

Rhymes for area code

See All Rhymes for area code

Browse Nearby Words

area centralis
area code
aread
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Area code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/area%20code. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

area code

noun
: a usually three-digit number that represents each telephone service area in a country (as the U.S. or Canada)

More from Merriam-Webster on area code

Nglish: Translation of area code for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about area code

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All