mobile

1 of 3

adjective

mo·​bile ˈmō-bəl  -ˌbī-əl 

also

-ˌbēl 

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 societies

—E. 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

a(1)

: cellular sense 3

a mobile phone

(2)

: of, relating to, or being a computing device (such as a smartphone or tablet) that is capable of being connected wirelessly to the Internet and is typically used for online browsing, watching videos, playing games, reading books, etc.

a mobile video player/e-reader

b

: designed or intended to run on a mobile device

mobile apps/games

c

: taking place on or utilizing a mobile device

mobile gaming/streaming

mobile

2 of 3

noun

mo·​bile ˈmō-ˌbēl 

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

ˈmō-ˌbīl  British : cell phone, mobile phone

-mobile

3 of 3

noun combining form

1

: motorized vehicle

snowmobile

2

: automotive vehicle bringing services to the public

bloodmobile

bookmobile

Synonyms

Adjective

• movable
• moveable
• portable

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

This can include ensuring that data is properly backed up, mobile devices are safe and sensitive data is password protected. —Jamie Akhtar, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

The iPhone 16e also supports Wi-Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC radio for tap-and-go mobile payments, and Express Cards with power reserve. —Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025

Noun

Sirena reported that the facility is involved in developing SIM cards with Russian encryption, manufacturing radar processors for marine radar stations and creating a system which enables Russia's security forces to monitor mobile and internet users. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025

At its peak during Covid, drive-thru, mobile and delivery orders accounted for nearly all of Starbucks’ U.S. sales. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing mobile

• mobile home
• mobile home park
• mobile library
• mobile phone
• primum mobile

Rhymes for mobile

• coble
• dobell
• global
• lobel
• noble
• sobol
• ennoble
• ignoble
• immobile

Kids Definition

mobile

1 of 2 adjective

mo·​bile ˈmō-bəl  -ˌbēl 

-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

: cellular sense 2

mobility

mō-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

mobile

2 of 2 noun

mo·​bile ˈmō-ˌbēl 

: 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  -ˌbīl 

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 articulator

—G. A. Miller

2

: characterized by an extreme degree of fluidity

ether and mercury are mobile liquids

mobility

mō-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural mobilities

Geographical Definition

Mobile

geographical name

Mo·​bile mō-ˈbēl 

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