# FOMO

/ˈfoʊmoʊ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fomo
Updated: 2026-07-19

## Definition

Stands for Fear Of Missing Out. The feeling of anxiety that other people are having fun or experiencing good things without you.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Fear Of Missing Out. A pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent, often exacerbated by social media.

## Examples

- Social media often gives me serious FOMO.
- She checked her phone constantly during the dinner, driven by a nagging sense of FOMO about the party she had skipped.
- The digital age has institutionalised FOMO, as curated online personas create an illusion of constant excitement that leaves the observer feeling perpetually excluded.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.