cardphone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (historical/dated)Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “cardphone” mean?
A public telephone that is operated by inserting a prepaid card or credit card, rather than coins.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A public telephone that is operated by inserting a prepaid card or credit card, rather than coins.
A type of payphone designed to accept payment via magnetic strip or chip cards, historically found in public places before the widespread adoption of mobile phones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is/was more common in British English. In American English, 'payphone' was the generic term, with 'card-operated payphone' used for specification.
Connotations
In the UK, it specifically evoked the iconic red BT (British Telecom) Cardphones. In the US, it had a more generic technical connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low to obsolete in both varieties, but marginally more recognisable to older British speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “cardphone” in a Sentence
There is a cardphone [LOCATION].to make a call from a cardphoneto insert a card into the cardphoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cardphone” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cardphone service was discontinued in 2018.
- He looked for a cardphone box on the high street.
American English
- The cardphone system was never as widespread as coin-operated ones.
- They installed a cardphone unit at the airport.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical references to telecommunications infrastructure.
Academic
In historical or sociological studies of technology and public space.
Everyday
Virtually unused in contemporary speech; might appear in period dramas or nostalgic conversation.
Technical
Obsolete term in telecommunication engineering and public service design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cardphone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cardphone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cardphone”
- Using 'cardphone' to refer to a mobile phone with a SIM card.
- Assuming it is still a common, active term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a historical or dated term, as the technology has been largely replaced by mobile phones.
A payphone is the general term for any public coin-operated telephone. A cardphone is a specific type of payphone that uses a card for payment.
No, that would be incorrect. A cardphone refers specifically to a fixed public telephone, not a personal mobile device.
Because British Telecom (BT) converted many of its iconic red boxes from coin operation to cardphone operation in the 1980s and 1990s before eventually decommissioning most of them.
A public telephone that is operated by inserting a prepaid card or credit card, rather than coins.
Cardphone is usually formal, technical in register.
Cardphone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːdfəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːrdfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CARD + PHONE: Think of a telephone that eats a plastic CARD instead of coins.
Conceptual Metaphor
A VENDING MACHINE FOR CONVERSATION (it requires a token/card to dispense a service).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'cardphone'?