cellphone

IPA/sˈɛlfəʊn/
KK[sˈɛlfon]IPA/sˈɛlfoʊn/

cellphone — noun

1. A small telephone that you can carry with you and use anywhere, connecting to a

1.nounA2
Definition

A small telephone that you can carry with you and use anywhere, connecting to a network of radio signals instead of through wires. It can make calls, send text messages, and run apps for the internet, maps, and games.

Example

A commuter pulled out her cellphone to see she would arrive late.

use cellphone to check something

Dr. Okafor asked the patient to call his wife on his cellphone.

call someone on cellphone

Common collocations
  • answer your cellphone
  • cellphone battery
  • cellphone charger
  • cellphone number
  • cellphone screen
  • cellphone signal
  • check your cellphone
  • lose cellphone reception
  • put away your cellphone
  • turn off your cellphone
  • use your cellphone
Synonyms
  • mobile phone

    More common in British English; same meaning and level of formality.

  • smartphone

    A cellphone with advanced computing features, internet access, and a touchscreen — a subset of cellphones.

  • handset

    More technical or business-oriented; can also refer to the part of a landline phone you hold to your ear.

Antonyms
  • landline

    A phone connected by wires to a fixed network, used only in one location.

Grammar Patterns

cellphone + verb (ring, vibrate, die)

use/check/answer + cellphone

cellphone + noun (number, screen, charger)

Usage Note

Cellphone is used more in American English. In British English, mobile phone is more common. Both terms are understood everywhere.

Common Mistakes

I forgot my cellphone at house.
I left my cellphone at home.
'forgot' works alone ('I forgot my cellphone') but 'leave + at + place' is more natural for location.
My cellphone electricity is dead.
My cellphone battery died.
'electricity' is not the right word; 'battery' is the rechargeable power source.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cellphone and mobile phone are near-synonyms that differ mainly by regional preference: cellphone is the default term in American English, while mobile phone (or simply mobile) dominates British English. Both refer to a portable telephone connected via radio signals. A smartphone is a type of cellphone that runs a full operating system, supports internet browsing, and can install third-party apps — whereas a basic cellphone (sometimes called a feature phone) may only handle calls and texts. Handset is broader: it can mean either a cellphone or the part of a landline phone you hold, and is often used in business or technical contexts. For everyday conversation about the device in your pocket, cellphone and mobile phone are the most natural choices; use smartphone when the advanced features are relevant.

cellphone ↗mobile phone ↗smartphone ↗handset ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • cellphone etiquette
  • cellphone ban
  • cellphone bill
  • cellphone case
  • cellphone holder

Prepositions

  • on a cellphone

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word cellphone is a compound of cell and phone. Cell comes from the idea of a cellular network, where coverage areas are divided into smaller hexagonal 'cells,' each served by a base station. Phone is short for telephone, from Greek tēle ('far') and phōnē ('sound' or 'voice'). The term cellular phone appeared in the 1970s as the technology was being developed; the shortened form cellphone became common in the 1980s and 1990s as mobile networks spread.