telemarketing
n.n. the activity of calling people on the phone to try and sell them products or services. You might find these calls annoying if they happen during dinner.
n. the marketing of goods or services by means of telephone calls, typically unsolicited, to potential customers. Often carries a negative connotation due to its intrusive nature.
He got a job in telemarketing to pay for college.
Many people use call-blocking apps to avoid the constant stream of telemarketing calls they receive every day.
While some firms still rely on telemarketing for lead generation, increasingly strict privacy regulations have forced a shift toward digital and permission-based advertising strategies.
Formed from the Greek prefix tele-, meaning at a distance, and the English noun marketing. The term entered common usage in the 1970s to describe the formalisation of telephone-based sales strategies.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'telemarketing firm' or 'telemarketing campaign'.
Last updated July 22, 2026