English Reference
noun

SMS

n.
US /ˌɛˌsɛˈmɛs/ sms

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    Stands for Short Message Service. A text message sent from one mobile phone to another.

    Abbreviation for Short Message Service. A text message transmitted via a cellular network. Countable in this sense.

    Simple

    I sent you an SMS this morning with the address of the restaurant.

    In context

    The bank sends an automated SMS to customers whenever a transaction exceeding a certain threshold is detected on their account.

    texttext message
  2. 02 C1 Advanced TechnicalAcademic

    Stands for Safety Management System. A formal way for a company to manage safety risks at work.

    Abbreviation for Safety Management System. A systematic approach to managing safety, including organisational structures, accountabilities, policies, and procedures.

    Simple

    The airline updated its SMS to improve how they report small errors.

    In context

    The regulatory audit focused on the effectiveness of the company's SMS in identifying latent hazards before they resulted in operational incidents.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalArchaic

    Stands for Seiner Majestät Schiff. A title used for ships in the old German Imperial Navy, meaning 'His Majesty's Ship'.

    Abbreviation for Seiner Majestät Schiff. The ship prefix used by the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) until the end of World War I.

    Simple

    The SMS Emden was a famous light cruiser during the First World War.

    In context

    Historians noted that the SMS Seydlitz survived heavy damage during the Battle of Jutland due to its superior internal compartmentalisation.

    HMS

From German SMS.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin German SMS
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated