cell-phone

IPA/ˈsel fəʊn/
IPA/ˈsel fəʊn/

cell-phone — noun

1. A portable telephone that sends and receives calls through a network of nearby r

1.nounA2
Definition

A portable telephone that sends and receives calls through a network of nearby radio masts, allowing you to talk to someone from almost anywhere without a fixed wire connection.

Example

Bilal dropped his cell-phone on the pavement and cracked the screen.

possessive determiner + cell-phone as direct object

The nurse asked Greta to keep her cell-phone switched off during the appointment.

keep + cell-phone + past participle (switched off)

Common collocations
  • cell-phone number
  • cell-phone charger
  • cell-phone bill
  • cell-phone service
  • cell-phone signal
  • cell-phone screen
  • turn off your cell-phone
  • answer a cell-phone call
Synonyms
  • mobile phone

    More common in British English; used the same way as 'cell-phone'

  • cell

    Informal shortening; used mainly in American English ('Give me a call on my cell.')

  • handphone

    Common in Southeast Asian English; less familiar to American or British speakers

Antonyms
  • landline

    A phone that connects through a fixed wire, not through radio signals

Grammar Patterns

cell-phone + (optional modifier)

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, 'cell phone' (two words) and 'mobile phone' are equally common. 'Cell-phone' with a hyphen is more common in formal writing and dictionary entries.

Common Mistakes

I left my cell-phone in a taxi.
I left my cell phone in a taxi.
Both spellings (cell phone, cell-phone, cellphone) are accepted; the hyphenated form is most common in dictionaries.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Cell-phone', 'mobile phone', and 'cell' all refer to the same device: a portable telephone that uses radio masts. 'Mobile phone' is the standard term in British and Australian English; 'cell-phone' (or 'cell phone') is typical in American English. 'Cell' is an informal abbreviation used mostly in the US ('Call my cell.'). 'Handphone' is the common term in Singapore and Malaysia but is unfamiliar elsewhere. 'Smartphone' is a distinct category — it refers to a cell-phone with advanced computing features (apps, internet, touchscreen). All cell-phones today are smartphones, but older basic models were called 'feature phones', not smartphones. For everyday use, 'I forgot my cell-phone at home' and 'I forgot my mobile' mean the same thing.

mobile phone ↗cell ↗handphonesmartphone ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word 'cell-phone' is a shortening of 'cellular telephone'. The term 'cellular' describes the technology, where a coverage area is divided into small zones called 'cells', each served by a low-power transmitter. 'Phone' comes from Greek 'phōnē', meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. The first handheld cellular phone call was made in 1973, and the word 'cellphone' entered common use in the 1980s and 1990s as the devices became widely available.

First known use

1983

1983, in the meaning defined above