# mobile phone

CEFR A1 · Compound

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

## Definition

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

For teachers: A portable telecommunications device that connects to a cellular network. This term is the standard in British English.

## Examples

- I need to charge my mobile phone.
- She checked for messages on her mobile phone as soon as the plane landed.
- The rapid adoption of the mobile phone has fundamentally reshaped communication patterns and social etiquette across the globe.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I forgot my mobil phone." but "I forgot my mobile phone." — The adjective is spelled 'mobile' with an 'e' at the end.

## Usage notes

- This is the standard term in British English; the American English equivalent is 'cell phone'.
- Teaching tip: Highlight the compound noun stress pattern: the main stress falls on 'MOBILE phone', not 'mobile PHONE', distinguishing it from a simple adjective-noun pair.

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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.