mobile

The word “mobile” means able to move or be moved easily, rather than staying fixed in one place. In plain terms, able to move around freely, or (as a noun) a mobile phone.

“Mobile” is pronounced MOH-byl (/ˈmoʊ.bəl/ in IPA).

Here is “mobile” used in a sentence: “After surgery, he was slowly able to become mobile again.”

Depending on how it is used, “mobile” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “mobile” comes from Latin. From Old French, from Latin "mobilis," meaning "easy to move," from "movere" ("to move").

“Mobile” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Mobile” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to move or be moved easily, rather than staying fixed in one place.

Both describe something not fixed in place, but the emphasis differs. 'Mobile' means able to move or be moved, sometimes under its own power — a mobile unit travels around. 'Portable' specifically means light enough to be carried by hand. A portable device is always mobile, but not everything mobile is portable.

The main opposites are 'immobile,' 'fixed,' and 'stationary,' all describing something that cannot move or must stay in one place. In a medical sense, a patient who cannot move freely may be described as immobile. The right opposite depends on whether you mean unable to move or simply not moving.

Because it can be carried and used almost anywhere, unlike a traditional landline fixed to one spot. The word captures the whole point of the device: freedom of movement. In American English it is usually called a 'cell phone,' while 'mobile' is the standard term in Britain and much of the world.