flash mob
Americannoun
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a group of people mobilized by social media to meet in a public place for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration.
The flash mob brought wide smiles to the faces of commuters waiting for their train.
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a group of teenagers who have contacted each other by cell phone and social media and gather in an area to trash it or to mug and beat passersby.
verb (used with object)
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to crowd around (a place or person) in a flash mob.
Dancing teenagers flash mobbed the store.
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to commit violence against (a place or person) in a flash mob.
The mayor imposed a curfew on all males under the age of 18 after two blocks of downtown Philadelphia were flash mobbed and severely damaged.
verb (used without object)
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flash mob
2000–05; flash in the sense of ‘quick'; on the model of smart mob
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cases have been brought over private Facebook messages, flash mob protests scattering anti-election leaflets, and vandalism of candidate placards.
From Barron's ● Dec. 27, 2025
In June 2019, Europark Idroscalo Milano unveiled the "restored" statue after a Jackson-themed flash mob.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2025
Castellanos said Quintana’s account would post Instagram stories with “symbols or abbreviations which coincided with intersections allowing for all to respond in a flash mob fashion and overwhelm the location.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2025
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently announced a series of arrests in flash mob thefts at Lululemon and Ulta locations.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 1, 2024
The post office flash mob proposal was a start, but when’s the next big number?
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
