WordValecold call
an unsolicited sales approach to a stranger
In more detail
1. (noun) a phone call or visit made to someone you don't know, usually to try to sell them something
2. (verb) to make an unexpected phone call or visit to someone you don't know in order to sell them something or ask for information
Examples
- 1. The sales team makes hundreds of cold calls every week.
- 2. We cold call potential customers to introduce our new product.
How to use cold call
Cold call refers to an uninvited commercial contact, typically used in sales and marketing contexts. It describes both the act of making such contact and the contact itself. The term is neutral in most professional contexts but may carry negative connotations from the perspective of recipients who view it as intrusive.
Common phrases
- make a cold call
- receive a cold call
- cold call someone
- cold calling campaign
- cold call strategy
- cold caller
Synonyms
unsolicited call · unannounced visit · prospecting call · outreach
Word family
cold caller (noun) · cold calling (noun/gerund) · cold-call (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'cold call' to mean a phone call made without preparation or notes, rather than a call to an unknown recipient. Cold calling specifically emphasizes the relationship status (unknown) rather than the caller's level of preparation.
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