cordless telephone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral, technical
Quick answer
What does “cordless telephone” mean?
A telephone unit consisting of a base station connected to a telephone line and a portable handset that can communicate with the base station via radio waves without a physical cord.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A telephone unit consisting of a base station connected to a telephone line and a portable handset that can communicate with the base station via radio waves without a physical cord.
A technology enabling telephonic communication within a limited range without physical tethering, predating widespread mobile/cellular networks; also used metaphorically to describe outdated or superseded communication technology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK English may use 'cordless phone' more frequently as a clipped form. US English may slightly favour the full 'cordless telephone', especially in technical contexts. The word 'cord' itself is used in both, though 'wireless phone' is a less common synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a specific era (late 20th century) of home/office technology. It may carry a slight connotation of being somewhat obsolete compared to a mobile.
Frequency
Frequency of use has declined sharply in both varieties since the 2000s, replaced by 'mobile phone', 'cell phone', or simply 'handset' in context. Remains common in product retailing for landline devices.
Grammar
How to Use “cordless telephone” in a Sentence
[Subject] uses a cordless telephone.[Subject] answered on the cordless telephone.The cordless telephone [verb: rang/buzzed/beeped].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cordless telephone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely used attributively, e.g., 'cordless-telephone technology')
American English
- (Rarely used attributively, e.g., 'the cordless-telephone era')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in office supply contexts, telecommunications procurement, and descriptions of workplace equipment. 'We're upgrading the office cordless telephones to a new VoIP system.'
Academic
Used in historical or sociological studies of technology adoption and communication. 'The cordless telephone represented an intermediate step between fixed and fully mobile telephony.'
Everyday
Used in domestic contexts, often by older generations or when referring to a home landline device. 'Can you grab the cordless telephone? I think it's in the kitchen.'
Technical
Used in electronics, telecommunications, and product specifications, often specifying standards like DECT. 'This 1.9 GHz digital cordless telephone features a 100-meter range.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cordless telephone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cordless telephone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cordless telephone”
- Using 'cordless telephone' to refer to a mobile/cellular phone. Confusing 'cordless' (handset-to-base) with 'wireless' (broader, can include mobile networks).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cordless telephone's handset communicates only with its own dedicated base station, which is plugged into a fixed telephone line. A mobile phone connects to a cellular network via distant towers and operates over a wide area.
Yes, but less commonly. They are still used in homes and offices that maintain a traditional landline service, though their use is declining in favour of mobile phones and internet-based (VoIP) systems.
DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. It is a technical standard for digital cordless phones, offering better sound quality, security, and range than older analogue models.
Mobility within a limited range (typically the home or office). It allows the user to move freely while talking, and to answer the phone from another room without going to the base.
A telephone unit consisting of a base station connected to a telephone line and a portable handset that can communicate with the base station via radio waves without a physical cord.
Cordless telephone is usually neutral, technical in register.
Cordless telephone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːdləs ˈtɛlɪfəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrdləs ˈtɛləfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine cutting the CORD to set your telephone LESS restricted. CORD-LESS = freedom from the wire.
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGY AS LIBERATION (free from physical constraint), BRIDGE (between fixed and mobile communication).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a 'cordless telephone'?