# cellular phone

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cellular-phone
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. mobile device

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a portable phone that you can carry with you and use almost anywhere.

For teachers: a handheld telecommunication device that connects to a wireless network via radio frequencies.

- He pulled his cellular phone out of his pocket to check the time.
- The widespread adoption of the cellular phone has fundamentally altered how people coordinate social gatherings and manage professional obligations on the move.

Usage: Often shortened to 'cell phone' or simply 'cell' in everyday conversation.

Teaching tip: While technically referring to the network technology, this is the standard term in the US and Canada; British English speakers almost exclusively use 'mobile phone'.

## Examples

- He keeps his cellular phone in his pocket.
- Before smartphones became common, a cellular phone was primarily used for voice calls and simple text messages.
- The rapid expansion of cellular phone networks in the late twentieth century fundamentally altered the accessibility of telecommunications in rural and developing regions.

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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.