cellular

1 of 2

adjective

cel·​lu·​lar ˈsel-yə-lər 

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 

-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

Adjective

Nobody has successfully transferred consciousness from one nervous system to another or shown that this is possible, says Alysson Muotri, a professor of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who is a pioneer in brain organoid research. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2026

At lower pressures, the cells showed no signs of damage, though researchers observed ruptured membranes and some internal cellular damage at higher pressures, the study reports. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Noun

Starshield, by contrast, is using a much lower frequency range that probably only allows for the transmission of data at rates closer to 3G cellular, Tilley says. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025

While this issue hasn’t affected my cellular, maybe this change has something to do with it? —PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing cellular

• cellular foam
• cellular respiration
• cellular suicide
• cellular telephone

Rhymes for cellular

• acellular
• subcellular
• extracellular
• intercellular
• intracellular
• multicellular
• unicellular
• hepatocellular

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 

1

: of, relating to, or consisting of cells

2

: cell-mediated

cellular immunity

cellularity

ˌsel-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural cellularities