pay phone

noun

1. a public telephone requiring that the caller deposit coins or use a credit card to pay for a call.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay phone¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Recently, that has included embellishing public pay-phone kiosks.

From Washington Post

Besides the phone booth, PGTelco has eight pay-phone kiosks that also are now free for local calls.

From Washington Times

The chief justice argued that the plaintiffs in the case before him, who were collection agencies for pay-phone companies, lacked standing.

From New York Times

There is a crucial difference: The telephone industry is closely regulated by the FCC, which has explicit authority to set rates for pay-phone calls.

From Time

Joining the ranks of fire hydrants, pay-phone booths and signposts before them, the bike kiosks have increasingly assumed an expanded role.

From New York Times