hobo

noun ho·bo \ ˈhō-(ˌ)bō \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of hobo

plural hoboes also hobos

1 : a migratory worker

2 : a homeless and usually penniless vagabond

See hobo defined for English-language learners

See hobo defined for kids

Examples of hobo in a Sentence

kind folks who always gave hoboes who came to the farm a meal and then sent them on their way

Recent Examples of hobo from the Web

And then this Abe Lincoln robot-hobo is terrorizing the town, staggering through traffic, etc.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Publishing the Best of the Desert: An Interview With Ken Layne," 25 Apr. 2018
In 1900, the cartoonist Fredrick Opper created Happy Hooligan, a hapless Irish-American hobo.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "My Epiphany About the Problem With Apu," 14 Apr. 2018
The ride circles the museum grounds and includes information on hobo culture and the museum's rolling stock.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "8 scenic and historical train rides in Wisconsin," 29 Mar. 2018
The term is a misnomer (its practitioners were not necessarily bums or hobos), but the name stuck.

— anita gates, New York Times, "From 12th Century B.C. to 2017, Art in Startling Variety," 7 Mar. 2018
The state is home to about 500 species of spiders, with three that can cause serious health problems for humans, once bitten: the hobo, yellow sac and black widow.

— aimee green, OregonLive.com, "Manager of upscale Portland restaurant bitten by poisonous spider, $999,999 lawsuit says," 14 Mar. 2018
Jackson, our mysterious hobo hero looking for paradise and his family on the other side, is nearing his goal, but the literal damn devil is in his way.

— will nevin, OregonLive.com, "WW #89: Born in the desert, a dream comes to Alabama to die," 5 Jan. 2018
Below, shop sleek backpacks, modern hobos, classic totes with cool hardware, and more.

— hilary george-parkin, Glamour, "23 Work Bags You Might Actually Want to Wear Out at Night," 22 Dec. 2017
Johnson kept things first class with Gucci’s Dionysis hobo which coordinated nicely with her Gucci boots.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Dakota Johnson’s Airport Style Takes Cues From The Cockpit," 14 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hobo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hobo

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1888

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

hobo Synonyms

Synonyms

bum, tramp, vagabond, vagrant;

Related Words

drifter, roamer, transient;

beggar, derelict, mendicant, panhandler;

dodger, malingerer, shirker, slacker;

gamine, ragamuffin, urchin, waif;

hobo

verb

Definition of hobo

intransitive verb

: to live or travel in the manner of a hobo

First Known Use of hobo

1906

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

HOBO Defined for English Language Learners

hobo

noun

Definition of hobo for English Language Learners

: a person who has no place to live and no money and who travels to many different places

HOBO Defined for Kids

hobo

noun ho·bo \ ˈhō-bō \

Definition of hobo for Students

plural hoboes

: ¹vagrant

Learn More about hobo

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hobo Spanish Central: Translation of hobo Nglish: Translation of hobo for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hobo for Arabic speakers

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hobo

Definition of hobo

Examples of hobo in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hobo from the Web

Origin and Etymology of hobo

hobo Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

hobo

Definition of hobo

First Known Use of hobo

HOBO Defined for English Language Learners

hobo

Definition of hobo for English Language Learners

HOBO Defined for Kids

hobo

Definition of hobo for Students

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