# cellphone

CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cellphone
Updated: 2026-07-27

## Definition

a small phone that you can carry with you and use almost anywhere. Most of these now have touchscreens and connect to the internet.

For teachers: a portable electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized base stations. Commonly used in North American English; 'mobile phone' is the standard British equivalent.

## Examples

- I need to charge my cellphone before we leave.
- She checked her cellphone for messages as soon as the plane landed at the airport.
- The ubiquity of the cellphone has fundamentally altered social etiquette, as people are now reachable at nearly any moment regardless of their physical location.

## Pitfalls

- Not "my handphone" but "my cellphone" — 'Handphone' is common in Southeast Asian English but is not used in standard American or British English.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in American and Canadian English; speakers in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand typically prefer 'mobile phone'.

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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.