adj
Common
cellular
SEHL-yoo-luh
Cellular (adj) means relating to, made up of, or resembling biological cells. Example: “The disease causes cellular damage over time.”
adj
1
Relating to, made up of, or resembling biological cells.
"The disease causes cellular damage over time."
"Researchers study cellular repair mechanisms in aging."
2
Relating to mobile phone networks.
"I had no cellular signal on the mountain, so I couldn't call anyone."
"Most cellular providers now offer plans with plenty of data."
"The remote village finally got cellular coverage last year."
How to use cellular
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with living cells — or, separately, to do with mobile phone networks.
Common pairings
cellular structure
cellular network
cellular damage
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Word forms
- Plural
- cellulars
- Comparative
- more cellular
- Superlative
- most cellular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The disease causes _____ damage over time.
Etymology
From New Latin cellularis, from cellula, "small cell."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
noncellular
Related words
Rhymes for cellular
See all rhymes for cellular →Frequently asked questions
What does “cellular” mean?
The word “cellular” means relating to, made up of, or resembling biological cells. In plain terms, to do with living cells — or, separately, to do with mobile phone networks.
How do you pronounce “cellular”?
“Cellular” is pronounced SEHL-yoo-luh (/ˈsɛl.ju.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cellular” in a sentence?
Here is “cellular” used in a sentence: “The disease causes cellular damage over time.”
What part of speech is “cellular”?
“Cellular” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cellular” come from?
The word “cellular” comes from New Latin. From New Latin cellularis, from cellula, "small cell.".
Is “cellular” a common word?
“Cellular” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cellular” have?
“Cellular” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to, made up of, or resembling biological cells.
What is the difference between 'cellular' and 'mobile' when talking about phones?
Cellular, common in American English, describes phones that connect through networks of radio cells, and it means much the same as mobile, the term more usual in British English. Both refer to the same wireless phone technology, and the difference is largely regional vocabulary.
What is the difference between 'cellular' and 'Wi-Fi' data?
Cellular data travels over a carrier's mobile phone network using cell towers and usually counts against a data plan. Wi-Fi connects a device to a local wireless network linked to the internet, typically without using carrier data. Both provide internet access but through different networks.
What is the difference between 'cellular' and 'molecular' in biology?
In biology, cellular refers to the level of whole cells and their structures and activities, while molecular refers to the smaller scale of molecules such as DNA and proteins inside cells. Cellular biology studies cells as units; molecular biology focuses on the molecules that drive them.
What are common phrases that use the word 'cellular'?
Cellular appears in set phrases such as cellular network, cellular data, and cellular service in the phone sense, and cellular structure, cellular respiration, and cellular level in the biological sense. The surrounding words usually make clear which meaning is intended.
