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.
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.