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

After the destruction, Smith wrote a song with a friend called “One of These Days” that went viral on Facebook.

From Los Angeles Times

Turmoil at 23andMe, and a lawsuit alleging that GEDmatch shares data with Facebook, highlights how far your genetic information could travel without your consent.

From Los Angeles Times

For years, smugglers have used Facebook and other platforms to advertise safe passage between countries, often including prices and package deals such as “kids go free”.

From BBC

Martinez, whose nonprofit We Are Not Invisible raises funds for homeless needs, put out a late-night plea on Facebook as the temperature dropped below 50.

From Los Angeles Times

Cassandra, who stumbled on a Facebook article linking cancer and talc following her diagnosis, said it was used on her as a baby and she continued to use it "for 20 years or more".

From BBC