mobile

1 of 3

adjective

1
: capable of moving or being moved : movable
a mobile missile launcher
a mobile laboratory
2
a
: changeable in appearance, mood, or purpose
mobile face
b
: adaptable, versatile
an organization mobile enough to be able to cope with any emergency
3
: migratory
a mobile society of nomadic herders
4
a
: characterized by the mixing of social groups
the general confusion in moral standards which characterizes mobile societiesE. R. Mowrer
b
: having the opportunity for or undergoing a shift in status within the levels of a society
socially mobile workers
5
: marked by the use of vehicles for transportation
mobile warfare
6
: of or relating to a mobile
A mobile art work hung from the ceiling.
7
: cellular sense 3
a mobile phone

mobile

2 of 3

noun

mo·​bile ˈmō-ˌbēl How to pronounce mobile (audio)
1
: a construction or sculpture frequently of wire and sheet metal shapes with parts that can be set in motion by air currents
also : a similar structure (as of paper or plastic) suspended so that it moves in a current of air
2

-mobile

3 of 3

noun combining form

1
: motorized vehicle
snowmobile
2
: automotive vehicle bringing services to the public
bloodmobile
bookmobile

Examples of mobile in a Sentence

Adjective Their armies are now fully mobile. a mobile kitchen that helps bring food to homeless people Noun They hung a mobile over the baby's bed. Even if I'm out of the office you can reach me on my mobile.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The center will also be able to take resources out into the community with a new mobile clinic. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 Last year, Redfin saw 50 million visitors per month, on average, to its website and mobile app. Alena Botros, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 There’s not trumpet-blowing for the mobile app’s major milestone. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 With that new license in hand and with approval from the lottery office, those teams could enter their own partnerships with mobile betting platforms of their choosing. Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 As of the end of last year, about half of .gov websites are still not mobile friendly. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 For the Dodgers, Spectrum will throw in SportsNet LA streaming free to any fan in the Los Angeles market who buys its Internet and mobile telephone service, offered as of Tuesday at a promotional price of $49.99 per month. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Customers cannot get the free cone through delivery or mobile orders. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 19 Mar. 2024 Apart from being optimized for mobile devices, BetOnline offers a dedicated app specifically designed to accommodate all poker players. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
The update will come to mobile and consoles like the Nintendo Switch later on. Nena Farrell, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2024 Donation driven To address an immediate need for A positive blood and an ongoing need for all other blood types, Stanford Blood Center’s blood mobile will be at Sharks Ice at 1500 S. 10th St. for a San Jose Sharks Blood Drive on March 30. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 As babies begin to see farther away, a crib mobile can help soothe and entertain them. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 The open letter said that Twitch’s plans for mobile include adding previously desktop-only moderation tools; changing how viewers can purchase subscriptions, bits, and gifts; and generally improving the mobile app experience. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 Complimentary lockers with mobile charging units (available first come, first served). Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2024 The articulation is also very involved and sophisticated, which is good because in the games this is an agile mobile suit. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 In 2021, the mobile’s retail value was updated to $2 million. Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 However, note that not all bitcoin slots are available to play on mobile. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mobile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English mobyll, from Anglo-French moble, from Latin mobilis, from movēre to move

Noun combining form

automobile

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mobile was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mobile

Cite this Entry

“Mobile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mobile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mobile

1 of 2 adjective
mo·​bile ˈmō-bəl How to pronounce mobile (audio) -ˌbēl How to pronounce mobile (audio)
-ˌbīl
1
: capable of moving or being moved : movable entry 1
2
: changing quickly in expression
a mobile face
3
: easily moved
mobile troops
4
: tending to travel or migrate from place to place : migratory
mobile workers
5
: characterized by movement from one social class to another
a mobile society
6
mobility noun

mobile

2 of 2 noun
mo·​bile ˈmō-ˌbēl How to pronounce mobile (audio)
: an artistic structure that is moved easily or that has parts easily moved (as by a current of air)

Medical Definition

mobile

adjective
mo·​bile ˈmō-bəl How to pronounce mobile (audio) -ˌbīl How to pronounce mobile (audio)
1
: capable of moving or being moved about readily
globular proteins that are mobile and rod-shaped proteins that form solid structures
the tongue … is clearly the most mobile articulatorG. A. Miller
2
: characterized by an extreme degree of fluidity
ether and mercury are mobile liquids
mobility noun
plural mobilities

Geographical Definition

Mobile

geographical name

Mo·​bile mō-ˈbēl How to pronounce Mobile (audio)
ˈmō-ˌbēl
1
river 38 miles (61 kilometers) long in southwestern Alabama formed by the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers and flowing south into Mobile Bay (an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico)
2
city and port at the point where the Mobile River enters Mobile Bay in southwestern Alabama population 195,111

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