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.
Swiping through profiles on your handset is so much sexier than finding dates on your computer like a dork. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026 The real answer here is handsets for children with limited features. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026 In addition, the system introduces push-pull harness connections across the goggles, handset, and radio. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026 This expands the portfolio with wider price gaps and more popular handset configurations, helping protect gross margin targets. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 June 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

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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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on handset

Nglish: Translation of handset for Spanish Speakers

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