fomo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “fomo” mean?
The apprehension or anxiety that one is missing out on an exciting or rewarding event, opportunity, or experience that others are having.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The apprehension or anxiety that one is missing out on an exciting or rewarding event, opportunity, or experience that others are having.
A pervasive societal anxiety driven by social media and constant connectivity, leading to compulsive checking of updates or a fear of making the 'wrong' leisure choice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. Spelling standard is 'FOMO' (all caps) in formal writing, 'fomo' (lowercase) in digital/informal contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with youth culture and digital/social media in initial usage; now broadly understood across demographics in both regions.
Frequency
Equally frequent in modern informal contexts in both the UK and US. Possibly entered popular lexicon slightly earlier in US media.
Grammar
How to Use “fomo” in a Sentence
to have fomo (about + NP/gerund)to suffer from fomoto experience fomofomo + kicked in/set inVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fomo” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I didn't want to go, but I was totally fomoing when I saw their pictures.
- Stop fomoing and just enjoy your night in.
American English
- She fomoed her way into buying tickets for three concerts the same weekend.
- I fomo hard every time I scroll past a vacation post.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing to describe limited-time offers ('Don't let fomo make you miss this deal!') and in workplace culture discussions about overwork.
Academic
Appears in sociology, psychology, and media studies papers analyzing digital culture and social behaviour.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about social plans, events, purchases, or seeing friends' posts online.
Technical
Rare in pure STEM fields; used in UX/UI design and social media analytics to describe user engagement drivers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fomo”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fomo”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fomo”
- Using it as a countable noun ('I have a fomo'). It's generally uncountable. Overusing in formal writing. Confusing it with simple envy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it has been included in major dictionaries like Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster since the early 2010s as an informal noun.
In very informal, digital-native contexts, yes (e.g., 'I fomoed into buying it'). This is not yet standard in formal writing but demonstrates language evolution.
JOMO, or the 'Joy Of Missing Out,' describes the pleasure of staying in, disconnecting, or choosing a quieter, more deliberate alternative.
No, while it originated in a social context, it now applies to any sphere where one might fear missing an opportunity: investments, sales, career moves, trends, etc.
The apprehension or anxiety that one is missing out on an exciting or rewarding event, opportunity, or experience that others are having.
Fomo is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Fomo: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfəʊ.məʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfoʊ.moʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The fomo is real.”
- “Fomo got the better of me.”
- “A serious case of fomo.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **FO**x **MO**aning because he missed the party - FO-MO.
Conceptual Metaphor
MISSING OUT IS A PHYSICAL PAIN / ANXIETY IS A FORCE (that kicks in, sets in).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core emotion behind 'fomo'?