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

"If we can do that, maybe someday we could do quantum computing in a cell phone," Pan says with a smile.

From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026

County home to multiple locations, took the boy’s cell phone and told him he had to get rid of it so his mother couldn’t track him.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

TMZ shared police bodycam footage from the scene on Thursday that showed Woods talking into his cell phone away from officers.

From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2026

"Have some decency. This will end one day," Lopez said after being arrested, in cell phone video that went viral at the time.

From Barron's ● Mar. 19, 2026

One of the three guards monitoring the screens sent a text on a secure cell phone: We have a climber.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• cellular phone
• wireless telephone