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
In his first interview since taking up the post in 2022, US Consul General Gregory May cautioned that connectivity issues and data security concerns had prompted some American companies to use burner phones and laptops when visiting the once free-wheeling enclave.
—Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024
Eventually, Hudson learned that a call was made to a burner phone before the chase, confirming his suspicion that Red was tipped off.
—Henry Chandonnet, Peoplemag, 14 July 2023
The Utah investigators flagged their counterparts in New Hampshire, who circled back with Homeland Security and learned that Customs and Border Protection had uncovered payment and contact details that ultimately led the task force right to the burner phone in Clegg's pocket in Vermont.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2023
What to Know About 'Long Island Serial Killer' Case After Suspect Is Arrested
Police also found cellphone billing records that corresponded with cell site locations for burner phones used to arrange meetings with the victims, the complaint alleges.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 14 July 2023
The records allegedly corresponded with cell site locations for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Beach victims.
—Jonathan Dienst, NBC News, 14 July 2023
Court testimony revealed the two were paid $2,000 to kill Allen and used a burner phone, with Hudson posing as a 20-year-old woman, to set up a meeting at Allen’s home.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2023
The timing of the post could have been better, as a report came out earlier in the day about a burner phones scheme that Keim allegedly participated in when he was suspended from the Cardinals after pleading guilty to extreme DUI.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2023
In theory, whoever used those burner phones also carried a regular phone that pinged the same towers at the same time.
—Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024
Eventually, Hudson learned that a call was made to a burner phone before the chase, confirming his suspicion that Red was tipped off.
—Henry Chandonnet, Peoplemag, 14 July 2023
The Utah investigators flagged their counterparts in New Hampshire, who circled back with Homeland Security and learned that Customs and Border Protection had uncovered payment and contact details that ultimately led the task force right to the burner phone in Clegg's pocket in Vermont.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2023
What to Know About 'Long Island Serial Killer' Case After Suspect Is Arrested
Police also found cellphone billing records that corresponded with cell site locations for burner phones used to arrange meetings with the victims, the complaint alleges.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 14 July 2023
The records allegedly corresponded with cell site locations for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the Gilgo Beach victims.
—Jonathan Dienst, NBC News, 14 July 2023
Court testimony revealed the two were paid $2,000 to kill Allen and used a burner phone, with Hudson posing as a 20-year-old woman, to set up a meeting at Allen’s home.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2023
The timing of the post could have been better, as a report came out earlier in the day about a burner phones scheme that Keim allegedly participated in when he was suspended from the Cardinals after pleading guilty to extreme DUI.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2023
In theory, whoever used those burner phones also carried a regular phone that pinged the same towers at the same time.
—Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burner phone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near burner phone
Cite this Entry
“Burner phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burner%20phone. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share