mob

¹

[ mob ]

noun

1. a disorderly or riotous crowd of people.
2. a crowd bent on or engaged in lawless violence.
3. any group or collection of persons or things.
4. the common people; the masses; populace or multitude.
5. a criminal gang, especially one involved in drug trafficking, extortion, etc.
6. the Mob, Mafia ( def 1 ).
7. Sociology. a group of persons stimulating one another to excitement and losing ordinary rational control over their activity.
8. a flock, herd, or drove of animals:

   a mob of sheep.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a lawless, irrational, disorderly, or riotous crowd: mob instincts.

   mob rule;

   mob instincts.

2. directed at or reflecting the lowest intellectual level of the common people: the mob mentality.

   mob appeal;

   the mob mentality.

verb (used with object)

, mobbed, mob·bing.

1. to crowd around noisily, as from curiosity or hostility:

   Spectators mobbed the courtroom.

2. to attack in a riotous mob:

   The crowd mobbed the consulate.

3. Fox Hunting. to chop (a fox).

mob

²

[ mobmohb ]

noun

, Digital Technology.

1. (in a video game) a hostile nonplayer character that the player may target and fight.

MOB

³

1. mother of the bride.

MOB

¹

abbreviation for

1. mobile phone

mob

²

/ mɒb /

noun

1. 1. a riotous or disorderly crowd of people; rabble
   2. ( as modifier )

      mob violence

      mob law

2. derogatory.
   a group or class of people, animals, or things
3. a flock (of sheep) or a herd (of cattle, esp when droving)
4. derogatory.
   the masses
5. slang.
   a gang of criminals

verb

1. to attack in a group resembling a mob
2. to surround, esp in order to acclaim

   they mobbed the film star

3. to crowd into (a building, plaza, etc)
4. (of a group of animals of a prey species) to harass (a predator)

Derived Forms

• ˈmobber, noun
• ˈmobbish, adjective

Other Words From

• mobber mobbist noun
• mobbish adjective
• mobbish·ly adverb
• mobbish·ness noun
• mobbism noun
• un·mobbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mob¹

First recorded in 1680–90; short for Latin mōbile vulgus “the movable (i.e., changeable, inconstant) common people”

Origin of mob²

First recorded in 1980–85; coined by British video game developer Richard Bartle; shortening of mobile (in the sense “a moving sculpture hung from the ceiling”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mob¹

C17: shortened from Latin mōbile vulgus the fickle populace; see mobile

Example Sentences

But then again again, we are talking about a president whose most recent act in office was declining to intervene when told that a violent mob, which he had sent to the U.S.

From Slate

Later, a mob at the station spared the cricketer because of the kada - it probably led them to believe he shared their faith.

From BBC

On the other side of the religious divide, pace bowler Mahmood found himself facing a deadly mob on a train.

From BBC

According to a 2004 biography by his son Rajender Amarnath, Lala Amarnath narrowly escaped a sectarian mob in Patiala in Indian Punjab.

From BBC

When Trump lost the 2020 election and encouraged a mob of his supporters to block the peaceful transfer of power, most Republican senators — even those who forcefully condemned the attack on the U.S.

From Salon

Related Words

• jostle
• swarm