burner phone

American  

[bur-ner fohn] / ˈbɜr nər ˌfoʊn /

noun

Informal.

1. a disposable cell phone with prepaid service, often used with the intent to temporarily obscure the true identity or contact information of the user: I always give out the number from my burner phone when I’m going on a blind date.

   Members of the cartel used burner phones to evade federal surveillance.

   I always give out the number from my burner phone when I’m going on a blind date.

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Etymology

Origin of burner phone

2000–05; burn ¹ ( def. ) (perhaps in the slang sense “to disclose the identity of”) + -er ¹ ( def. ) + phone ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Your brother tries to find the buyer, but it turns out they used a burner phone.

From MarketWatch

The Premier League champions said 500 people were denied entry to Anfield for trying to gain access with a burner phone - used by touts to avoid tickets being traced - in the last 12 months.

From BBC

Clark said Combs got back in the car and realized she had called Ventura’s burner phone.

From Los Angeles Times

Silverman asked Baker whether he slipped the burner phone to her at the wake and he denied it.

From Los Angeles Times

I was kicked out of the private messaging group I'd been added to, and my burner phone fell completely silent.

From BBC