smartphone

American  

[smahrt-fohn] / ˈsmɑrtˌfoʊn /

Or smart phone

noun

smartphones plural

1. a device that combines a cell phone with a handheld computer, typically offering internet access, data storage, email capability, etc.

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smartphone British  

/ ˈsmɑːtˌfəʊn /

noun

1. computing a mobile telephone with computer features that may enable it to interact with computerized systems, send e-mails, and access the web

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• smartphones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of smartphone

First recorded in 1995–2000

Compare meaning

How does smartphone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cell phone vs. smartphone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

smartphone smartphones

Another resident spoke of downloading a smartphone app to track decibel levels throughout the day, intending to document the noise of the coaster screams and report any violations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Samsung, which launched the high-end products in London, aims to reaffirm its dominance in the foldable smartphone market, where it has operated since 2019, ahead of a potential move by US rival Apple this year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

When you’ve had a smartphone for most of your life, it becomes an integral part of how you work, said Lindsay Boccardo, a career coach who works with Gen Z employees specifically.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

With nothing more than a smartphone, a lighting kit and a fridge full of fresh meat, halal butcher Manny Malik from Wolverhampton had around two hundred people tuning into his session.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

When the bookmobiles arrived at the Lemoncello Library, the security guards, Clarence and Clement, gave each team member a brand-new smartphone.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 169, expanding its mobile driver’s license pilot program, which allows Californians to securely add their driver’s license or state identification card to their smartphones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Low Earth-orbit satellite networks are closer to Earth than traditional constellations, making them suitable to project low-latency broadband directly to smartphones in parts of the world where cell towers are unavailable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

It said there was no one single factor causing the crisis, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, smartphones, health issues and the current jobs market, which has seen a sharp drop in the number of entry-level positions.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

"A new era of AI agent smartphones begins," Nubia said, sharing images of the handsets online.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Everybody whipped out their smartphones and started using the notes app to rearrange the letters.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein