mobile device

IPA/ˌməʊbaɪl dɪˈvaɪs/
IPA/ˌməʊbl dɪˈvaɪs/

mobile device — noun

1. any compact portable gadget with computing or communication abilities that you c

1.nounA2
Definition

any compact portable gadget with computing or communication abilities that you can carry from one place to another — common examples are smartphones, tablet computers, and similar items that often link to the internet

Example

Elena pulled out her mobile device to show a photo of her new puppy.

possessive + mobile device as object of verb

The school asks students to keep their mobile devices turned off during class.

plural possessive + mobile devices + passive infinitive

Common collocations
  • use a mobile device
  • charge a mobile device
  • carry a mobile device
  • mobile device user
  • mobile device screen
  • mobile device battery
Synonyms
  • handheld device

    Focuses on the ability to hold the device in one hand; slightly less common in everyday speech.

  • portable device

    Emphasises that the device is easy to carry, but does not necessarily imply internet connectivity.

  • smart device

    Highlights advanced computing and connectivity features; a broader category that also includes smart home appliances.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[countable] a/the + mobile device

possessive + mobile device(s)

Usage Note

Often used in formal or written contexts such as company policies, school rules, or product descriptions. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'phone', 'tablet', or 'laptop' instead of 'mobile device'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a mobile device phone.
I bought a mobile device.
Using both 'mobile device' and 'phone' together is redundant because phone is already one type of mobile device.
Please turn off your mobile device's.
Please turn off your mobile devices.
No apostrophe is needed for a simple plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

"Mobile device" is the broadest and most general term, covering any portable electronic gadget with computing and usually internet capabilities. A "smartphone" is a specific type of mobile device designed primarily for calls, messaging, and apps, fitting in a pocket. A "tablet" is a larger mobile device with a touchscreen, best for reading, watching video, and light work. "Handheld device" focuses on the form factor — anything small enough to operate in one hand — and can include game consoles or scanners. "Portable device" is even wider and includes laptops and music players, even if they lack mobile internet. In short: a smartphone is always a mobile device, but a mobile device is not necessarily a smartphone. When writing a general policy or rule, "mobile device" is the safest choice because it covers all possibilities.

mobile device ↗smartphone ↗tablet ↗handheld deviceportable device

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • mobile device management
  • mobile device security
  • mobile device usage policy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The term 'mobile device' combines 'mobile' (from Latin 'mobilis', meaning 'movable') and 'device' (from Old French 'devis', meaning 'division, plan, design', later 'apparatus'). The compound began appearing in the late 1990s as portable electronics with computing and communication abilities became common, replacing earlier terms like 'handheld' or 'PDA' (personal digital assistant).