helpline
noun
help·line
ˈhelp-ˌlīn 
Southern often ˈhep-,
also ˈheəp-
variants
or less commonly help line
plural helplines also help lines
: a phone service providing help or assistance: such as
a
: a telephone service that is usually available to the public and that provides advice, support, resources, etc. for some specific purpose (such as crisis intervention)
a free/confidential/24-hour helpline
He's also a peer support specialist for DeQH, a helpline for South Asian LGBTQ people.—
Rose Brennan
Rose BrennanCalls to state addiction help lines have risen, as have alcohol use, drug overdoses and relapse rates, experts have said.—Steve Janoski
Steve Janoski… helpline volunteers offer support and basic information, locate treatment options in your area, and can help you find answers to any questions you may have.—Radhika Menon
Radhika Menon
b
: a customer service line to provide support (such as technical support) for a product, service, etc.
Before making your purchase, phone the software vendor's customer helpline to make sure customer representatives are knowledgeable.—Eric Berg
Eric BergA user's guide, software documentation, and telephone helpline are included.—Carol Tenopir
Carol TenopirAll week, Mata and other staffers have spent hours calling help lines set up by drug plan providers, only to get constant busy signals.—Nicole Foy
Nicole FoyExamples of helpline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
New Mexico has set up a helpline that helps answer people’s questions about topics like measles symptoms and vaccinations.
—Brian Castrucci, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
When the government scaled back funding for the national health helpline, the province of Buenos Aires expanded its own.
—Anita Pouchard Serra & Natalie Alcoba, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025
At the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, gambling’s rising popularity among youth has been reflected in the demographics of those calling the helpline.
—Adam Hudacek, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025
The bill is supported by the National Council on Problem Gambling, a nonprofit organization that operates the national helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpline
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Brian Castrucci, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
When the government scaled back funding for the national health helpline, the province of Buenos Aires expanded its own.
—Anita Pouchard Serra & Natalie Alcoba, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025
At the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, gambling’s rising popularity among youth has been reflected in the demographics of those calling the helpline.
—Adam Hudacek, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025
The bill is supported by the National Council on Problem Gambling, a nonprofit organization that operates the national helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpline
Cite this Entry
“Helpline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpline. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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