mobile phone

American  

noun

1. any wireless telephone that operates over a relatively large area, as a cell phone or PCS phone.

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mobile phone British  

noun

1. a portable telephone that works by means of a cellular radio system

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Etymology

Origin of mobile phone

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The Long Beach rocket-and-satellite maker is buying a company that provides critical communications services to pilots, mariners and others, while giving Rocket Lab a foothold in the emerging satellite-based mobile phone market.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

There’s long been speculation that Elon Musk might enter the mobile phone market.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

The spectrum will allow its Starlink broadband satellite network to provide mobile phone service worldwide.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

BNP Paribas analysts on Monday wrote that the Charter-SpaceX partnership would help Musk’s rocket and AI company in its desired “path toward becoming more of a direct-to-consumer mobile phone provider.”

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

Later that night, while I was sneaking Shannon's pink jacket back into her wardrobe, I found Salim's mobile phone in the picket.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd