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 the sisters are radicalized after being attacked in the 1969 Burntollet Bridge incident, when protesters calling for equal rights on a peaceful march from Belfast to Derry were ambushed by a mob wielding stones, iron bars and sticks spiked with nails.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s obstinacy continued for weeks, culminating with Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump urged on an angry mob that stormed the Capitol in an attempt to halt the election certification.

From Los Angeles Times

As she asserts herself — and becomes more of a mob boss — Sofia gains confidence.

From Los Angeles Times

But the Biden-Harris ticket ousted Trump from the White House, with the scheming poor loser refusing to concede defeat and inciting a riotous mob at the nation’s Capitol in a failed effort to block certification of the election results.

From Los Angeles Times

Four years ago, Donald Trump lost a presidential election by millions of votes, declared himself the winner anyway and eventually told a mob of his supporters to go and “stop the steal,” watching television for hours as they ransacked the U.S.

From Salon

Related Words

• jostle
• swarm