burner phone
noun
: a prepaid cell phone that is not bound to a contract with a carrier (see carrier sense 7b) and is usually intended to be disposed of after use
She said he returned a short time later, got a lot of cash, then left again with the drugs and money after talking to an unidentified person on a burner phone.—
Kurt Helin
Kurt Helincalled also burner
Examples of burner phone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some travelers feel the need to carry a burner phone while traveling internationally to avoid scrutiny at the U.S. border.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Europeans acquire burner phones, devoid of content, for visits to the United States, as if they were headed for Iran.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Other uses for a burner phone Burner phones aren’t just useful at the border.
—Iona Brannon, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025
Adding to the concern are recent travel advisories and warnings from Canadian immigration lawyers, who have advised citizens to bring burner phones when visiting the U.S. amid reports of Canadian travelers having their devices searched at the border.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burner phone
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Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Europeans acquire burner phones, devoid of content, for visits to the United States, as if they were headed for Iran.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Other uses for a burner phone Burner phones aren’t just useful at the border.
—Iona Brannon, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025
Adding to the concern are recent travel advisories and warnings from Canadian immigration lawyers, who have advised citizens to bring burner phones when visiting the U.S. amid reports of Canadian travelers having their devices searched at the border.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burner phone
Cite this Entry
“Burner phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burner%20phone. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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