cellular

1 of 2

adjective

cel·​lu·​lar ˈsel-yə-lər How to pronounce cellular (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of cells
a cellular structure
cellular growth
b
: cell-mediated
cellular immunity
2
: containing cavities : having a porous texture
cellular rocks
3
: of, relating to, or being a radiotelephone system in which a geographical area (such as a city) is divided into small sections each served by a transmitter of limited range
cellular phones
cellularity
ˌsel-yə-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce cellular (audio)
-ˈla-rə-
noun

cellular

2 of 2

noun

: cell phone

Examples of cellular in a Sentence

Adjective Researchers are observing the course of the disease at the cellular level.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Officers found a man had used his personal cellular device to record video and audio of a boy urinating in a restroom stall. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The mode is designed to keep pets locatable for up to six months by using Bluetooth pings exclusively, instead of cellular and standard GPS features, which drain the battery. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Noun
For Jaffe, the cosmic and the cellular have always been linked. — Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026 While this issue hasn’t affected my cellular, maybe this change has something to do with it? — PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cellular

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin cellularis, from cellula living cell, from Latin, diminutive of cella small room

First Known Use

Adjective

1716, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellular was in 1716

Phrases Containing cellular

Rhymes for cellular

See All Rhymes for cellular

Browse Nearby Words

cellul-
cellular
cellular automaton
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cellular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellular. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cellular

adjective
cel·​lu·​lar
ˈsel-yə-lər
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of cells
2
: of, relating to, or being a radiotelephone system in which a geographical area (as a city) is divided into small sections each served by a transmitter of limited range
cellular phones

Medical Definition

cellular

adjective
cel·​lu·​lar ˈsel-yə-lər How to pronounce cellular (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of cells
2
: cell-mediated
cellular immunity
cellularity
ˌsel-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē How to pronounce cellular (audio)
noun
plural cellularities

More from Merriam-Webster on cellular

Nglish: Translation of cellular for Spanish Speakers

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