flash mob
noun
: a group of people summoned (as by email or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing
Examples of flash mob in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The flash mob shoplifting sprees obviously are concentrated in the retail sector, but wage theft can be perpetrated by any business, large or small.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023
Last week at Warner Bros., Latinas Acting Up lifted protesters’ spirits with a flash mob.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Most recently, a Macy's store in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia saw a similar flash mob target a fragrance counter on Tuesday, according to the Pasadena Star News.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2023
The Barbie film’s official Instagram account posted a video showing Gerwig getting surprised during what appears to be a Pilates class as a flash mob of Barbies and Kens pop into the room in honor of the filmmaker turning 40 on Friday.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2023
Following a string of flash mob robberies of luxury goods stores around Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday announced a new task force of local and federal agencies to target the crimes.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Notable smash-and-grab and flash mob thefts Pitcher on Thursday listed some of the largest recent incidents:
July 3: Four suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks stole $32,000 of merchandise from Bloomingdales in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.
—Kcal-News Staff, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2023
Pro-Chinese online influence campaign promoted protests in Washington, researchers say
Wright and his team produced a video of the flash mob protest, which the pro-Beijing group seemingly paid other Americans to promote on social media.
—Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 26 July 2023
As a result, as soon as the first invites began to trickle out last week, Bluesky essentially drew a flash mob of Twitter users desperate for an easy-to-use alternative.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 2 May 2023
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Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023
Last week at Warner Bros., Latinas Acting Up lifted protesters’ spirits with a flash mob.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Most recently, a Macy's store in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia saw a similar flash mob target a fragrance counter on Tuesday, according to the Pasadena Star News.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2023
The Barbie film’s official Instagram account posted a video showing Gerwig getting surprised during what appears to be a Pilates class as a flash mob of Barbies and Kens pop into the room in honor of the filmmaker turning 40 on Friday.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Aug. 2023
Following a string of flash mob robberies of luxury goods stores around Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday announced a new task force of local and federal agencies to target the crimes.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Notable smash-and-grab and flash mob thefts Pitcher on Thursday listed some of the largest recent incidents:
July 3: Four suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks stole $32,000 of merchandise from Bloomingdales in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.
—Kcal-News Staff, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2023
Pro-Chinese online influence campaign promoted protests in Washington, researchers say
Wright and his team produced a video of the flash mob protest, which the pro-Beijing group seemingly paid other Americans to promote on social media.
—Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 26 July 2023
As a result, as soon as the first invites began to trickle out last week, Bluesky essentially drew a flash mob of Twitter users desperate for an easy-to-use alternative.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 2 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flash mob.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
2003, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near flash mob
Cite this Entry
“Flash mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20mob. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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