hobo

noun

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ho·bo | \ ˈhō-(ˌ)bō

plural hoboes also hobos

Definition of hobo

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a migratory worker

2 : a homeless and usually penniless vagabond

3 or less commonly hobo bag : a large shoulder bag shaped like a pouch To punctuate the all-blue outfit, the actress slung on an unstructured, oversized suede hobo, a practical antidote to the current craze for fanny packs and mini bags.— Edward Barsamian

hobo

verb

hoboed; hoboing; hobos

Definition of hobo (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to live or travel in the manner of a hobo

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About hobo

Synonyms for hobo

Synonyms: Noun

bindle stiff,
bum,
bummer,
sundowner
[Australian],
swaggie
[chiefly Australian],
swagman
[chiefly Australian],
tramp,
vagabond,
vagrant

Examples of hobo in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Andy Griffith plays a folksy hobo turned megalomaniacal media star in Elia Kazan’s biting 1957 satire. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2021 From Japanese internees and hobos at the turn of the 20th century to taggers at the turn of the 21st, these graffiti artists reveal Los Angeles’s underground history. — New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020 Maisel bought the abandoned building in 1966, when the neighborhood was flush with hobos and artists, and the building is inextricably connected with his work as a photographer. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2019 The show started with asymmetrical skirts in large, dyed patchwork denim paired with slouchy jackets and hobo bags in earth tones. — Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2020 Alternatively, squishable soft pouches and hobo bags have married into the ultimate hybrid baguette, with options from Bottega Veneta, Rag & Bone, and Staud. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2020 Devon was played by Devon Abner, who in the episode in question was the one dressed as a hobo. — Omar Sanchez, EW.com, 15 Jan. 2020 The poems depict a world of modern day hobos who lurk in train yards, and roam the underbelly of secondary cities like Moorhead and Bellingham. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2019 Abood kept it simple with a large peace-sign necklace and a hobo bag. — Greg Burnett, cleveland, 29 Nov. 2019

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.