: 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.
President Gwynne Shotwell demonstrated a prototype mobile handset to some investors earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 29 July 2026 The commercial pairing of the 18 and 18e creates a symbolic link between the two handsets in much the same way as the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will exhibit in September. Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Having been in the less-is-more handset business since 2014, Light has gone from making a complementary product for smartphone owners – 'your phone away from phone' – to building a primary device that grants you more quality time in your day. New Atlas, 22 July 2026 Paul Chesne/Donaldson Collection/Getty Images A few years later, Nokia reimagined its mobile handsets, releasing the 1100 in 2003. IEEE Spectrum, 13 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handset. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on handset

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster