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Payphone - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A payphone is a public telephone that requires payment, usually with coins or a card, to make calls. It was commonly used before mobile phones became widespread.

payphone

/ˈpeɪˌfoʊn/ /ˈpeɪˌfəʊn/

Definition:

A public telephone that requires payment, typically with coins or a card, to make calls.

Synonyms:

public telephone, phone booth, call box

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

mobile phone, smartphone

Common Collocations:

coin-operated payphone, broken payphone, use a payphone

Derivatives:

payphones (plural)

Usage Tips:

Use "payphone" to refer to a coin-operated public telephone, not a personal mobile device.

Common Phrases:

drop a dime (slang), make a call from a payphone

Etymology:

Derived from "pay" (to give money) + "phone" (short for telephone), first used in the early 20th century.

Examples:

  • 1. She found a payphone near the bus stop.
  • 2. He inserted coins into the payphone to call his friend.
  • 3. The old payphone on the corner hasn’t worked in years.
  • 4. Tourists often struggle to find a working payphone nowadays.

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