What does "fob" mean?
A little pocket near the waistline of a pair of trousers or in a waistcoat or vest to hold money or valuables, especially a pocket watch.
Fob
/fɒb/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A little pocket near the waistline of a pair of trousers or in a waistcoat or vest to hold money or valuables, especially a pocket watch.
- Grammar: fob is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: access device, anklet, armlet, bag.
- Useful contrasts: be honest, disclose, physical key.
- Usage evidence: It is just slightly larger than a typical fob.
How to use "fob"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fob" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fob" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fob" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fob" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fob" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "access device" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fob", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A little pocket near the waistline of a pair of trousers or in a waistcoat or vest to hold money or valuables, especially a pocket watch.
"With a saint at his chin and a seal at his fob."
- 2 Initialism of forward operating base. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 3 short chain or ribbon attaching a pocket watch to a man's vest wordnet
- 4 A short chain or ribbon to connect such a pocket to the watch.
- 5 Initialism of flash of brilliance. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 an adornment that hangs from a watch chain wordnet
- 7 A small ornament attached to such a chain.
- 8 Initialism of freedom of belief. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 9 a vest pocket to hold a pocket watch wordnet
- 10 A hand-held electronic device that can be used as a remote control or as a key to unlock motor cars, doors, etc., and thus, modern car keys.
- 11 Initialism of friend of Bill: a supporter of Bill Clinton. US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"It seemed at times that everyone was an FOB — everyone, that is, who'd emerged from the ivyest groves of academia […]"
- 12 Initialism of foot overbridge: a pedestrian overpass. India, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"There has been an inordinate delay in starting work on the foot over bridge (FOB) with escalators in front of D.G. Vaishnav College on Poonamallee High Road in Arumbakkam. […] The FOB at P.H. Road, which is maintained by the state highways department, is one of seven similar facilities planned at various places in the city at a cost of Rs. 28 crore and being executed by the department."
- 13 Initialism of fresh off the boat, a recent immigrant. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, derogatory, initialism, sometimes, uncountable
"Everyone was Chinese. Some of the students were ABCs. That means "American-born Chinese." Others were FOBs. FOB means "fresh off the boat" and it is a bad insult. I didn't feel prejudiced about the FOBs because I was one of them."
- 14 Abbreviation of fecal occult blood. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To cheat, to deceive, to trick, to take in, to impose upon someone. archaic, transitive
"I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fobbed in it."
- 2 deceive somebody wordnet
- 3 To beat; to maul. archaic, transitive
Adjective
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of FOB (“free on board”). alt-of, not-comparable
- 2 Initialism of free on board. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable
- 3 Initialism of fresh off the boat. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable, slang
"All I knew was, the three-year gap made the difference between passing as American and being exposed as FOB."
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of Fall Out Boy, an American pop-punk band formed in Chicago. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Antonyms
Example
"It is just slightly larger than a typical fob."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fob"?
Common synonyms include: access device, anklet, armlet, bag, balloon, bangle.
How do you use "fob" in a sentence?
It is just slightly larger than a typical fob.
How do you pronounce "fob"?
Pronounced /fɒb/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Low German Fobke (“pocket”) or High Prussian Fuppe (“pocket”), probably related to Swedish ficka (“pocket”), Old Danish fikke, Alemannic German figge, Middle Dutch vicke, all from Proto-Germanic *fikkja, of uncertain ultimate origin: * possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- (“to assail, strike”), related to *fukkōną (“to strike”); * or of Romance origin, from Latin figere (“to fix, fasten”), possibly via an old form of Italian ficcare. Also see Ficke.
Etymology 2
From German foppen (“to mock”).
Etymology 3
Abbreviation.