# cell phone

CEFR A1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cell-phone
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

A small phone that you can carry with you and use anywhere. In British English, people usually call this a 'mobile phone'.

For teachers: A portable, wireless telephone that transmits signals via a cellular network. This is the standard term in American English.

## Examples

- I can't find my cell phone.
- She checked her cell phone for messages as soon as the plane landed.
- The proliferation of the cell phone has fundamentally reshaped modern communication and social etiquette.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I bought a new cellphone." but "I bought a new cell phone." — Although the one-word spelling is common, 'cell phone' as two words is the more standard form.

## Usage notes

- This is the primary term in American English; the British English equivalent is 'mobile phone'.
- Teaching tip: This is a compound noun where the stress falls on the first word, 'CELL phone', to distinguish it from a simple adjective-noun pair.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.