schmo

American

[shmoh] / ʃmoʊ /

Also schmoe sometimes shmo

noun

Slang.

plural

schmoes

a foolish, boring, or stupid person; a jerk.

schmo British

/ ʃməʊ /

noun

slang a dull, stupid, or boring person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of schmo

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; of obscure origin

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.

I paid extra for this ultra-convenient way to watch my favorite sport, and you’re treating me like, what, some schmo watching on network television?

From Slate • Sep. 8, 2025

Ed Sheeran wouldn’t let just any old schmo accompany him on “Thinking Out Loud” in front of 70,000 people, especially on an instrument they’ve only played for a few weeks.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2025

Unfortunately for the guru, only a schmo would fall for this Schmäh.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2023

Anderson is a genius, he says, while he’s a schmo.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 31, 2018

"Way to go, way to schmo," Sandi snaps.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023