handset

noun

hand·​set ˈhan(d)-ˌset How to pronounce handset (audio)
: a combined telephone transmitter and receiver mounted on a handheld device

Examples of handset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Foldable iPhone Ultra will be Apple’s most expensive handset ever. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026 The system connects directly with standard mobile devices without requiring modified handsets. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Some features will be restricted to the most recent handsets — Apple Intelligence is only for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and later, for instance. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Other users pointed to another clue that the handset seen in the video was unlikely to be Netanyahu’s personal phone. — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handset

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handset was in 1901

Rhymes for handset

See All Rhymes for handset

Browse Nearby Words

handservant
handset
hand-setting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handset. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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