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

"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

Evidence from his son's cell phone indicated, however, that Murdaugh was the only person with his wife and son at the estate's dog kennels several minutes before they were killed.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Citing the “unique nature of cell phone location records,” a 5-4 majority found “a legitimate expectation of privacy.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 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

As he does, I swear I see the top of a cell phone poke out of his front pocket for a second before he shifts and it disappears.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• cellular phone
• wireless telephone