Definition

Noun: A three-digit number that identifies a specific geographic region for telephone dialing within a country, such as the United States or Canada. It is dialed before the local telephone number when making a call to a different region.

Usage

The 'area code' is used to route long-distance telephone calls to the correct geographic region. It is a required part of dialing a phone number when calling outside one's local calling area.

Examples

• To call New York City from another region, you must first dial the area code 212, followed by the seven-digit local number.
• Please include your area code when listing your phone number on the form.
• My phone number is [phone], where 555 is the area code.

Advanced Usage

• Overlay area code: A new area code introduced to serve the same geographic region as an existing code, requiring all calls within the region to be dialed using the full 10-digit number (area code + local number).
  • Due to population growth, the city now uses an overlay area code.
• Toll-free area code: A special area code (e.g., 800, 888, 877) where the called party, not the caller, pays for the call.
  • For customer service, dial the toll-free area code 800.

Variants and Related Words

• Dialing code (noun): A more general term used internationally for a sequence of numbers dialed to reach a particular country, city, or mobile network. An area code is a type of domestic dialing code.
• Prefix (noun): In telephony, this can sometimes refer to the first set of digits in a phone number, which may include the area code or the central office code (the first three digits of the local seven-digit number).

Synonyms

• Numbering plan area (NPA) code: The formal technical term used within the telecommunications industry in North America.
• Regional code: A less common, descriptive synonym.

Related Phrases

• To dial the area code: The action of entering the code.
  • Remember to dial the area code even for local calls.
• Area code required: A notice indicating that the full 10-digit number must be used.
  • The recording stated, "Area code required," so I redialed the number.

Noun

1. a number usually of 3 digits assigned to a telephone area as in the United States and Canada