fob

¹ American  

[fob] / fɒb /

noun

1. a small pocket just below the waistline in pants, designed for a watch, keys, change, etc.

2. especially formerly,

   1. a short chain or ribbon, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.

   2. the medallion or ornament itself.

3. key fob.

   The fob allows students 24/7 access into the residence building and their rooms.

   I could never find my nail clipper in my purse, so now I’m using it as a fob on my keychain.

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fob ² American  

[fob] / fɒb /

verb (used with object)

fobbed, fobbing

1. Archaic. to cheat; deceive.

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verb phrase

1. fob off

   1. to cheat someone by substituting something spurious or inferior; palm off (often followed byon ).

      He tried to fob off an inferior brand on us.

   2. to put (someone) off by deception or trickery.

      She fobbed us off with false promises.

f.o.b. ³ American  

Or F.O.B.

abbreviation

Commerce.

1. free on board: without charge to the buyer for goods placed on board a carrier at the point of shipment.

   automobiles shipped f.o.b. Detroit.

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fob ¹ British  

/ fɒb /

noun

1. a chain or ribbon by which a pocket watch is attached to a waistcoat

2. any ornament hung on such a chain

3. a small pocket in a man's waistcoat, for holding a watch

4. a metal or plastic tab on a key ring

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fob ² British  

/ fɒb /

verb

1. an archaic word for cheat

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fob ³ British  

/ fɒb /

noun

1. slang a Pacific Islander who has newly arrived in New Zealand

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f.o.b. ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. free on board

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Etymology

Origin of fob¹

First recorded in 1645–55; origin uncertain; compare dialectal German Fuppe, Low German Fobke “pocket”

Origin of fob²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fobben; perhaps cognate with German foppen “to delude, kid, tease” ( fop ) or, alternatively, akin to French fourbe “cheat, swindler” (from Old French forbir “to clean”; furbish ( def. ) )

Origin of f.o.b.³

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

It pops out when it needs to be used, either automatically through the user’s key fob or phone, or manually by pressing the handle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

The doors typically don’t unlock when I approach the car until I pull out the key fob and hit the unlock button.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

In the Anaheim Hills incidents, one of the vehicles was stolen by thieves accessing the key fob signal through an antenna.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025

Ms Mannings reflected on how people often ask "are you OK?" - but it's a vague question, easy to "fob off".

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025

He cupped his bloodstone watch fob in his palm.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros