cell phone

American  

[sel-fohn] / ˈsɛlˌfoʊn /

Or cellphone

noun

Telecommunications.

• cell phones
  plural

1. a wireless telephone using a system of low-powered radio transmitters, with each transmitter covering a distinct geographical area cell, and computer equipment to switch a call from one area to another, thus enabling broad-scale portable phone service.

2. such a wireless telephone that has other functions, as text messaging or internet access.

3. mobile phone.

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cell phone Cultural  

1. A portable telephone that uses wireless cellular technology to send and receive phone signals. This technology works by dividing the Earth into small regions called cells. Within each cell the wireless telephone signal goes over its assigned bandwidth to a cell tower, which relays the signal to a telephone switching network, connecting the user to the desired party.

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Discover More

The proximity to a cell tower is often the key to good reception when using a cell phone.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cell phones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cell phone

First recorded in 1980–85; cell(ular) ( def. ) + phone ¹ ( def. )

Compare meaning

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

• cell phone vs. smartphone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cell phone

She pays for her cell phone, buys her own food and receives SNAP.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

Authorities are attempting to make contact with 14 people whom they have failed to reach by cell phone but are not yet presumed missing, Sheriff John Nowels told a press conference Monday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

Once-dominant cell phone maker Nokia was 60% of Finland’s market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

Investigators connected O’Donnell to the crime and O’Donnell to Julie Harding using cell phone data.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

“One call,” he says, fishing his cell phone out of his pocket.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• cellular phone
• wireless telephone