hobo

noun

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 also 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

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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

The trend is still going strong—you’re still more likely to see a girl carrying a wicker tote than a giant designer hobo—but colorful beaded bags are quickly replacing them. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "The Biggest—And Most Curious—Instagram Trends of Summer 2018," 3 Aug. 2018 The ride circles the museum grounds and includes information on hobo culture and the museum's rolling stock. — Chelsey Lewis, USA TODAY, "Eight scenic and historic train rides in Wisconsin," 3 Apr. 2018 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 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 A dive bar, for instance, does not have to harbor rats, hobos or cobwebs. — Tim Carman, ajc, "America's most authentic dive bars," 7 May 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.