dumbphone

American  

[duhm-fohn] / ˈdʌmˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a cell phone without the ability to run apps or connect to the internet and used simply for calling and texting.

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Etymology

Origin of dumbphone

First recorded in 2005–10; dumb ( def. ) + -phone ( def. )

Example Sentences

I could touch my iPhone to it and it would temporarily turn my device from a smartphone to a dumbphone.

From Slate • Sep. 5, 2025

At age 17, Davida Rimm-Kaufman gave up her smartphone to finish high school with a so-called dumbphone, worried that an “extreme addiction” to social media was making her stressed and sad.

From Washington Times • Apr. 21, 2023

Instead of scrolling through apps like TikTok and Instagram all day, she uses a so-called "dumbphone".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2022

Ironically, I spend a lot of time on the internet trying to figure out how to use my dumbphone, typing in questions such as, “How do I turn off predictive text on 3310?”

From The Guardian • May 30, 2017

Smartphone users are more likely to have their privacy invaded than dumbphone regular old cellphone users.

From Forbes • Sep. 6, 2012