walkie-talkie

American  

[waw-kee-taw-kee] / ˈwɔ kiˈtɔ ki /

Or walky-talky

noun

Radio.

1. a combined transmitter and receiver light enough to be carried by one person: developed originally for military use in World War II.

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walkie-talkie British  

/ ˌwɔːkɪˈtɔːkɪ /

noun

1. a small combined radio transmitter and receiver, usually operating on shortwave, that can be carried around by one person: widely used by the police, medical services, etc

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Etymology

Origin of walkie-talkie

1935–40, walk, talk, -ie

Example Sentences

"I went to a Jewish school. My children went to the same Jewish school I did. You know, every parent there does security -- you stand outside the school with a walkie-talkie," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

Left behind on the street outside the Louvre was the truck, a jerry can, a blowtorch, angle grinders, a walkie-talkie and yellow vests.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Pitching coach Blaine Traxel will have the walkie-talkie to relay pitches to Brody, who will be wearing the earpiece behind home plate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2025

Meanwhile, in his attempt to tune into Radio Luxembourg, Robert Rowlands was picking up the gang's walkie-talkie conversations on his ham radio.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2024

Tino got off the walkie-talkie with Luis and announced, “Luis says this: If it stays twenty-four degrees for ten more minutes, then it’s all over. He’s calling it off. We’re all going home.”

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

Related Words

• intercom
• pager