Facebook

[ feys-book ]

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a social media service and website, launched in 2004.

verb (used with object)

1. to communicate with (a person) or search for information about (a person) by using Facebook:

   My old girlfriend just facebooked me.

   His future employer Facebooked him and decided to withdraw the job offer.

2. to post on Facebook:

   I facebooked some photos of my cat.

   You should Facebook the event so more people will show up.

verb (used without object)

1. to use Facebook:

   Does your mom Facebook?

Facebook

/ ˈfeɪsˌbʊk /

noun

1. a popular social networking website

verb

1. tr; sometimes not capital to search for (a person's profile) on the Facebook website

Spelling Note

The official trademarked name of the social media platform and website is now styled in all capital letters “FACEBOOK,” though prior to 2020 the trademarked style was “facebook,” in all lowercase letters. Formal writing—as exemplified by most news and book publishers—treats such names as regular proper nouns, in this case “Facebook,” using an initial capital letter, but not all caps. However, when a trade name begins with a lowercase letter followed by an uppercase one, such as eBay or iPad, this spelling is retained, even at the beginning of a sentence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Facebook¹

First recorded in 2000–05; from facebook, a college student directory with personal photos and basic information

Example Sentences

"They have a meme-level understanding. 'Let's get rid of unauthorized spending' is the sort of thing that you might see in a Facebook meme."

From Salon

“I don’t want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!”

From Los Angeles Times

Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, external, Facebook, external, Twitter, external and YouTube, external.

From BBC

Australian man Colin Ahearn runs a Facebook page called 'Don't Drink Spirits in Bali' where he warns against mixed drinks like cocktails or drinks made from opened bottles of spirits.

From BBC

The city’s mayor, Borys Filatov, wrote on Facebook that an explosion had broken windows at a rehabilitation center for disabled people.

From New York Times