hobo

1 of 2

noun

ho·​bo ˈhō-(ˌ)bō 

plural hoboes also hobos

1

often disparaging; see usage paragraph below : a usually very poor person who has no permanent residence and travels from place to place especially by furtively hopping (see hop entry 1 sense transitive 2) trains

It should be noted that much of the discussion about the park … involved whether a fence needed to be built around the park to discourage the hobos and tramps, who traveled along the railroad, from taking up residence in the park.

—Kevin Dayhoff

also : a migrant worker

Hoboes travel across the country by hopping onto trains (although other modes of transportation are also acceptable), but crucially they work for their living, performing seasonal labor and taking on odd jobs.

—Marguerite Happe

2

or less commonly hobo bag : a large shoulder bag shaped like a pouch

To punctuate the all-blue outfit, the actress slung on an unstructured, oversized suede hobo, a practical antidote to the current craze for fanny packs and mini bags.

—Edward Barsamian

Usage of Hobo

Hobo functions as a neutral or positive self-descriptor. In general use, it is sometimes used disparagingly, but frequently the term carries positive connotations from its association with an adventurous life that is free of obligation.

The hobo never knows what is going to happen the next moment; hence, he lives only in the present moment. He has learned the futility of telic endeavor, and knows the delight of drifting along with the whimsicalities of Chance.

—Jack London

I imagined a hobo's life would be a fine thing. I would sleep in haystacks and do exactly what I wanted all the time.

—Matthew Power

hobo

2 of 2

verb

hoboed; hoboing; hobos

intransitive verb

: to live or travel in the manner of a hobo

Synonyms

Noun

• bindle stiff
• bum
• bummer
• sundowner [Australian]
• swaggie [chiefly Australian]
• swagman [chiefly Australian]
• tramp
• vagabond
• vagrant

Examples of hobo in a Sentence

Noun

kind folks who always gave hoboes who came to the farm a meal and then sent them on their way

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 19 Sep. 2024

There’s a lot to love about Coach’s viral shoulder bag: the modern hobo style, the soft leather, the distinct shape. —Lindy Segal, Glamour, 13 Sep. 2024

The towering figure of a cheerful, cartoonish hobo was the mascot of a chain of Hobo Joe's Restaurants that were popular in the 1960s through the mid-1980s. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2024

More than that, by actually living on the trail, Jack became, arguably, something unique: a hobo ambassador who was the AT’s living, breathing, ambulating encyclopedia. —Dan Koeppel, Outside Online, 5 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hobo

• hobo bag

Kids Definition

hobo

noun

ho·​bo

ˈhō-bō

plural hoboes also hobos

: a homeless and usually penniless wanderer : tramp

hobo verb