pay phone

American  

noun

1. a public telephone requiring that the caller deposit coins or use a credit card to pay for a call.

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Etymology

Origin of pay phone

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

I remember sad Bob Seger on a pay phone in a hallway talking to somebody — like, “I’m headed to Michigan, where I should be a god, but I’m opening for Bachman-Turner Overdrive.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

I went to a pay phone and called a Chrysler expert I knew about.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

As Chesnoff talks in the “Jinx” episode, red carpet footage from the “All Good Things” premiere briefly appears, as do clips of Lehrman posing as Katie and making a call from a pay phone.

From New York Times • May 12, 2024

Then came the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which allowed for increased competition in the pay phone market.

From Slate • Dec. 12, 2023

It was late, warm for February, and I called Molly’s apartment from a pay phone but hung up before anyone could answer.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee