noun
Uncommon
hobo
HOH-boh
Hobo (noun) means a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains. Example: “During the Great Depression, many hobos rode the rails looking for work.”
noun
1
A homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains.
"During the Great Depression, many hobos rode the rails looking for work."
2
A large, slouchy handbag.
"She carried a brown leather hobo bag over one shoulder."
"Avoid bulky styles such as duffle sacks, buckets, doctors' satchels, and hobos."
— Susan Ludwig, Janice Steinberg (1989)
How to use hobo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wandering homeless traveler — or, separately, a slouchy style of handbag.
When to use it
The "homeless traveler" sense can be considered dated or mildly derogatory in modern use; "homeless person" is more neutral.
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Word forms
- Plural
- hobos, hoboes
- Third person singular
- hobos
- Past tense
- hoboed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
During the Great Depression, many _____ rode the rails looking for work.
Etymology
Origin unknown; possibly a contraction of "ho, boy" or linked to an old dialect word for a country bumpkin.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hobo
See all rhymes for hobo →Frequently asked questions
What does “hobo” mean?
The word “hobo” means a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains. In plain terms, a wandering homeless traveler — or, separately, a slouchy style of handbag.
How do you pronounce “hobo”?
“Hobo” is pronounced HOH-boh (/ˈhoʊ.boʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hobo” in a sentence?
Here is “hobo” used in a sentence: “During the Great Depression, many hobos rode the rails looking for work.”
What part of speech is “hobo”?
“Hobo” is a noun.
Is “hobo” a common word?
“Hobo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hobo” have?
“Hobo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains.
