Definition

Noun: A service or feature that identifies and displays the telephone number (and sometimes the name) of the person or entity placing an incoming call to a telephone subscriber before the call is answered.

Usage

"Caller ID" is an uncountable noun. It refers to the service or the information provided by that service. It is commonly used to screen incoming calls. - I didn't answer because the caller ID showed "Unknown Number". - Do you have caller ID on your home phone line? - The caller ID displayed my doctor's office, so I picked up immediately.

Advanced Usage

• "Caller ID spoofing": The practice of deliberately falsifying the telephone number and/or name relayed by the caller ID service to disguise the caller's identity.
  • Many scam calls use caller ID spoofing to appear as local numbers.
• "Caller ID blocking": A feature that allows a caller to prevent their number from being displayed on the recipient's caller ID.
  • You can use caller ID blocking by dialing *67 before the number you wish to call.

Variants and Related Words

• Caller Identification: A more formal, full term for "caller ID."
• Call Display: A common synonym for "caller ID," frequently used in Canada.

Synonyms

• Calling Line Identification (CLI)
• Call Display

Related Phrases

• To show up on caller ID: To have one's number displayed by the service.
  • My new number should show up on your caller ID now.
• Without caller ID: Describing a call where the number is not transmitted or is blocked.
  • I never answer calls without caller ID.

Noun

1. a small display that will show you the telephone number of the party calling you