noun

fob

Fob (noun) means a small handheld device used to unlock a car or open a secured door remotely, or a decorative attachment on a keychain or watch chain. Example: “She pressed the fob to unlock her car from across the parking lot.”

noun

A small handheld device used to unlock a car or open a secured door remotely, or a decorative attachment on a keychain or watch chain.

"She pressed the fob to unlock her car from across the parking lot."

"His grandfather still carried a pocket watch with a silver fob."

A small pocket for holding a watch or valuables, especially in old-fashioned trousers or waistcoats.

"The antique waistcoat had a fob for a pocket watch."

verb

To cheat or trick someone, often in the phrase "fob off."

"He tried to fob off the customer with a cheap replacement."

How to use fob

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small remote-control device for cars/doors, or (older sense) a pocket or chain ornament for a watch.

Common pairings

key fob fob off watch fob

Word forms

fobbed past tense, fobs plural, fobs singular

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She pressed the _____ to unlock her car from across the parking lot.

Etymology

Probably from an old Germanic word for "pocket," related to Swedish ficka and German dialect forms.

Origin: Germanic

Synonyms

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fox trick flim-flam watch chain watch guard play tricks watch pocket play a joke on play a trick on pull a fast one on

Related words

john chance joke fox trick con Albert nonsense

Frequently asked questions

What does “fob” mean?

The word “fob” means a small handheld device used to unlock a car or open a secured door remotely, or a decorative attachment on a keychain or watch chain. In plain terms, a small remote-control device for cars/doors, or (older sense) a pocket or chain ornament for a watch.

How do you pronounce “fob”?

“Fob” is pronounced fob (/fɒb/ in IPA).

How do you use “fob” in a sentence?

Here is “fob” used in a sentence: “She pressed the fob to unlock her car from across the parking lot.”

What part of speech is “fob”?

Depending on how it is used, “fob” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fob” come from?

The word “fob” comes from Germanic. Probably from an old Germanic word for "pocket," related to Swedish ficka and German dialect forms.

How many meanings does “fob” have?

“Fob” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small handheld device used to unlock a car or open a secured door remotely, or a decorative attachment on a keychain or watch chain.

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Vocabulary lists that include fob:

Words with germanic origins Words that end with B

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