Etymologically
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cellular

Etymology and origin of the English word cellular

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1716
Borrowed from
French cellulaire
Ultimate origin
Latin (cella)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈsɛl.ju.lə/, /ˈsɛl.jə.lə/ (UK); /ˈsɛl.ju.lɚ/, /ˈsɛl.jə.lɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French cellulaire and New Latin cellulāris (“of little cells”),[2][3][4] from cellula (“little cell, little chamber”), a diminutive of cella (“small room, storeroom”) (see cell).[4][5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Consisting of or resembling cells, of tissue: 1753 in the OED and Etymonline;[6][4] Merriam-Webster dates a sense to 1716.[5]

Semantic evolution

Containing small compartments or cavities, porous, is from 1816,[6] and relating to cells or small rooms for single prisoners from 1823.[6] Open-textured fabric, as cellular linen, is from 1888.[6] A mobile telephone system in which the area served is divided into cells, each with its own transmitter, is from 1977.[4][6] The AHD also notes the cells of an organization or movement.[7]

Timeline

  • 1716 – cellular (Merriam-Webster).[5]
  • 1753 – of cells (tissue).[6][4]
  • 1823 – of prison cells.[6]
  • 1888 – cellular fabric.[6]
  • 1977 – cellular telephone.[4][6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relating to, resembling or made up of cells, especially those of living tissue.
  2. Having small cavities; porous.
  3. Woven with an open texture: a cellular blanket.
  4. Relating to a mobile telephone network divided into small areas, each with its own transmitter.

Word family

  • cellularity
  • cellularly
  • acellular
  • bicellular
  • extracellular
  • hepatocellular
  • intercellular
  • intracellular
  • cell
  • cellule
  • cellulose
  • cellar

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Cellular.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/cellular. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·