pay phone

A person uses a pay phone on a city street corner.

Definition

Noun

1. A public telephone that requires payment to operate: A "pay phone" is a coin-operated or card-operated telephone available for public use, typically located in public places such as streets, airports, or shopping centers.

Usage Examples

• (A public telephone requiring payment.)
• (A coin-operated public telephone.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pay phone booth": a small enclosed structure housing a pay phone.

  • He stepped into the pay phone booth to make a private call. (A small enclosure for a public telephone.)

• "Pay phone card": a prepaid card used to operate a pay phone.

  • She bought a pay phone card from the convenience store. (A prepaid card for a public telephone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Payphone (n): an alternative spelling of "pay phone."

  • The payphone in the lobby is out of order. (A public telephone requiring payment.)

• Coin phone (n): a type of pay phone that accepts coins only.

  • The coin phone requires exact change. (A public telephone operated by coins.)

Synonyms

• Public telephone: a telephone available for public use.
• Coin-operated telephone: a telephone that operates with coins.

Related Idioms

• "Drop a dime": to make a phone call (historically using a pay phone, which cost a dime).
  • He dropped a dime on the street corner to call his boss. (He used a pay phone to call.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Phone in: to make a telephone call, especially to a workplace.
  • She phoned in sick from a pay phone. (She called to report her absence using a public telephone.)