mobile

adjective mo·bile \ ˈmō-bəl , -ˌbī-əl also -ˌbēl \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of mobile

1 : capable of moving or being moved : movable

a mobile missile launcher

a mobile laboratory

2 a : changeable in appearance, mood, or purpose

mobile face

b : adaptable, versatile

an organization mobile enough to be able to cope with any emergency

3 : migratory

a mobile society of nomadic herders

4 a : characterized by the mixing of social groups

the general confusion in moral standards which characterizes mobile societies
—E. R. Mowrer

b : having the opportunity for or undergoing a shift in status within the levels of a society

socially mobile workers

5 : marked by the use of vehicles for transportation

mobile warfare

6 : of or relating to a mobile

A mobile art work hung from the ceiling.

7 : cellular 3

a mobile phone

—

mobility

play \mō-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

See mobile defined for English-language learners

See mobile defined for kids

Examples of mobile in a Sentence

Their armies are now fully mobile.
a mobile kitchen that helps bring food to homeless people

Recent Examples of mobile from the Web

Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device?

— Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: Zuckerberg's mea culpa on the Hill doesn't win new friends yet; Trump mulling firing Rosenstein?," 11 Apr. 2018
The app allows shoppers to scan items with mobile devices while in stores, pay through the app and avoid checkout lines.

— lorraine mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Walmart plans $28 million in upgrades to Maryland stores," 11 Apr. 2018
Participants will learn how to download free media to their mobile device or learn how to stream from a laptop or desktop using various free apps available through the library.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The South Windsor Edition," 10 Apr. 2018
Yes or no, does Facebook use audio obtained from mobile devices to enrich personal information about its users?

— rachel gutman, The Atlantic, "The 13 Strangest Moments From the Zuckerberg Hearing," 10 Apr. 2018
Lue thinks LeBron James and Green at the forwards allow the Cavs to be more mobile on defense.

— terry pluto, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers: Challenges facing Tyronn Lue -- Terry Pluto (photos)," 8 Apr. 2018
All of that said, Richt noted earlier this spring each of the signal callers competing for the starting job was mobile and able to evade defenders.

— christy cabrera chirinos, Sun-Sentinel.com, "After three weeks of practice, Hurricanes eager for first spring scrimmage," 6 Apr. 2018
Alexander believes this is one of the reasons why the mothers hang around—the babies are less mobile, and hence more vulnerable at this stage of their life to predators.

— National Geographic, "Python Moms Care for Their Young, Surprising Experts," 14 Mar. 2018
Some weather spotters prefer to be mobile, often equipped with storm radar apps that allow them to see storm cells.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Spotters help notify of dangers from weather," 5 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mobile

Middle English mobyll, from Anglo-French moble, from Latin mobilis, from movēre to move

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

mobile Synonyms

mobile

noun mo·bile \ ˈmō-ˌbēl \

Definition of mobile

1 : a construction or sculpture frequently of wire and sheet metal shapes with parts that can be set in motion by air currents; also : a similar structure (as of paper or plastic) suspended so that it moves in a current of air

2 British : cell phone, mobile phone

See mobile defined for English-language learners

Examples of mobile in a Sentence

They hung a mobile over the baby's bed.
Even if I'm out of the office you can reach me on my mobile.

Recent Examples of mobile from the Web

These changes will affect Twitter users on desktop, mobile, and TweetDeck.

— dani deahl, The Verge, "Twitter’s new emoji update ditches the pistol in favor of a water gun," 12 Apr. 2018
For Facebook on mobile, select the three stacked bars, then Privacy Shortcuts, then Privacy Checkup.

— rené a. guzman, San Antonio Express-News, "Did Cambridge Analytica get your Facebook data? What to do," 12 Apr. 2018
Even with two blood mobiles, the number of donors could not be accommodated, the Sheriff's Office reported.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "St. Tammany deputy shot on Easter released from hospital," 9 Apr. 2018
Somnox is more like a Nest thermostat than a semi-mobile, sentient threat to humanity that falls down stairs.

— matt jancer, WIRED, "This Gently Breathing Robot Cuddles You to Sleep," 9 Apr. 2018
Samsung also last month officially installed new CEOs for its three divisions: mobile, electronics components and consumer electronics.

— timothy w. martin, WSJ, "Samsung Expects to Extend Its Earnings Hot Streak," 5 Apr. 2018
The actors will be augmented by a 32-piece band — including a mobile, all-woman string quartet — and 1,500 people will be in the audience, surrounding the action and interacting sometimes with the performers.

— mark kennedy, chicagotribune.com, "For live 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' NBC turns to a Legend," 28 Mar. 2018
Thomas Trutschel Photothek via Getty Images Google has made another big step in its shift towards mobile, by starting to link to the small-screen rather than desktop versions of many websites.

— david meyer, Fortune, "Google Search Takes Another Big Step Towards a Mobile-First World," 28 Mar. 2018
No surprise, all of this growth is taking place on mobile, which grew 25 percent this year to 60 percent of internet ad spending and 24 percent of total ad spending.

— rani molla, Recode, "Advertisers will spend $40 billion more on internet ads than on TV ads this year," 26 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of mobile

see ¹mobile

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1937

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

-mobile

noun combining form

Definition of -mobile

1 : motorized vehicle

snowmobile

2 : automotive vehicle bringing services to the public

bloodmobile

bookmobile

Origin and Etymology of -mobile

automobile

Mobile

geographical name Mo·bile \ mō-ˈbēl , ˈmō-ˌbēl \

Definition of Mobile

1 river 38 miles (61 kilometers) long in southwestern Alabama formed by the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers and flowing south into Mobile Bay (an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico)

2 city and port at the point where the Mobile River enters Mobile Bay in southwestern Alabama population 195,111

MOBILE Defined for English Language Learners

mobile

adjective

Definition of mobile for English Language Learners

: able to move from one place to another
: able to move with the use of vehicles (such as trucks and airplanes)
: able to be moved

mobile

noun

Definition of mobile for English Language Learners

: a work of art or a decoration that is hung from above and that has attached shapes or figures that move easily in the air

MOBILE Defined for Kids

mobile

adjective mo·bile \ ˈmō-bəl , -ˌbēl , -ˌbīl \

Definition of mobile for Students

1 : easily moved : movable

mobile television cameras

2 : changing quickly in expression

The man had a mobile, passionate face …
—Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain

mobile

noun mo·bile \ ˈmō-ˌbēl \

Definition of mobile for Students

: an artistic structure whose parts can be moved especially by air currents

Medical Dictionary

mobile

adjective mo·bile \ ˈmō-bəl , -ˌbīl \

medical Definition of mobile

1 : capable of moving or being moved about readily

globular proteins that are mobile and rod-shaped proteins that form solid structures

the tongue…is clearly the most mobile articulator
—G. A. Miller

2 : characterized by an extreme degree of fluidity

ether and mercury are mobile liquids

—

mobility

play \mō-ˈbil-ət-ē\ noun, plural -ties

Learn More about mobile

See words that rhyme with mobile Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mobile Spanish Central: Translation of mobile Nglish: Translation of mobile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mobile for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mobile

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mobile

Definition of mobile

mobility

Examples of mobile in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mobile from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mobile

mobile Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

mobile

Definition of mobile

Examples of mobile in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mobile from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mobile

-mobile

Definition of -mobile

Origin and Etymology of -mobile

Mobile

Definition of Mobile

Phrases Related to MOBILE

Related Phrases

MOBILE Defined for English Language Learners

mobile

Definition of mobile for English Language Learners

mobile

Definition of mobile for English Language Learners

MOBILE Defined for Kids

mobile

Definition of mobile for Students

mobile

Definition of mobile for Students

Medical Dictionary

mobile

medical Definition of mobile

mobility

Learn More about mobile

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