Burner number
Definition
A second, discardable phone number for calls and texts, usually from a burner or second-line app.
Burner number, explained
A burner number is a secondary number you can drop when you no longer want it. The name comes from cheap prepaid burner phones, but today most burner numbers come from apps that add a second line to your existing smartphone, usually by subscription. They are handy for marketplace listings, rentals or dating, where you want to talk to people without sharing your real number. Most burner lines are VoIP, so apps that block VoIP may reject them at sign-up. If you only need a verification code rather than conversations, a temporary SMS number is a narrower tool for that single job.
Related terms
Disposable number
A phone number meant to be used briefly and thrown away, so your personal number stays private.
VoIP number
A phone number that runs over the internet rather than a mobile carrier's SIM, such as Google Voice or TextNow lines.
Temporary phone number
A number you use for a short time, often one verification, before it is returned to the provider and reassigned.