# pager

/ˈpeɪdʒɝ/ (US) · /pˈeɪdʒɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pager
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a small device you carry that beeps or vibrates when someone wants to contact you. People used them a lot before mobile phones became common.

For teachers: a small portable receiver that signals incoming messages with a tone or vibration, typically displaying a callback number or short text.

## Examples

- She carries a pager for emergency calls at work.
- The doctor keeps a pager on at night so the hospital can reach him in an emergency.
- Long obsolete for most consumers, the pager survives in hospitals where its simple radio signal reaches basements and lifts that block mobile phone coverage.

## Synonyms

beeper

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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.