handset

American  

[hand-set, hand-set, -set] / ˈhændˌsɛt, ˈhændˈsɛt, -ˌsɛt /

noun

1. Also called French telephone.  a telephone having a mouthpiece and earpiece mounted at opposite ends of a handle.

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verb (used with object)

handset, handsetting

1. to set (type) by hand.

adjective

1. (of type) set by hand.

2. (of a publication) printed directly from type set by hand.

handset British  

/ ˈhændˌsɛt /

noun

1. a telephone mouthpiece and earpiece mounted so that they can be held simultaneously to mouth and ear

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Etymology

Origin of handset

First recorded in 1915–20; hand + set

Example Sentences

All of them talk loudly on the handset, which she installed last month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

She noted Qualcomm’s guidance implies a 23% quarter-on-quarter decline in its QCT handset segment for its current quarter, saying that would be worse than the normal seasonal dip.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Each handset contains about three grams of them -- more than 3,700 tonnes overall for the 1.24 billion devices sold worldwide in 2024.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

It says this is necessary to help citizens verify the authenticity of a handset and report the suspected misuse of telecom resources.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

Her mom paced back and forth, punching redial on the handset, muttering under her breath, how could you forget your only daughter’s birthday?

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline