ShortMeaning, pronunciation & vowel sounds
FOMO Meaning & Pronunciation
/ˈfoʊmoʊ/ · noun (informal)
FOMO stands for fear of missing out: anxiety that other people are having rewarding experiences that you are not part of, often triggered by social media.
How to say it
How to pronounce fomo
fomo
The vowel breakdown
Vowel sounds in fomo
Each vowel sound below shows the letters that spell it, the sound they make, and the phonics pattern behind it.
The first syllable fo- ends in a vowel, so o says its own name, as in go and no.
Practise this pattern →The second o also ends its syllable, so it says its own name too. Both vowels in fomo sound like the o in go.
Practise this pattern →Definition
What does fomo mean?
Fear of missing out: anxiety that others are enjoying rewarding experiences without you, especially when prompted by social media.
“She checked her phone all evening out of FOMO.”
Word forms: FOMO · fomo
The opposite is sometimes called JOMO, the joy of missing out, meaning contentment in staying home or opting out.
Where it comes from
Origin of fomo
FOMO is an acronym formed from the first letters of fear of missing out. It became widely used in the 2010s, and the entrepreneur Patrick McGinnis is often credited with popularizing it in a 2004 article.
Similar words
Frequently asked questions
What does FOMO mean?
FOMO stands for fear of missing out. It describes anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences that you are not part of.
How do you pronounce FOMO?
FOMO is pronounced like a word, not letter by letter: /ˈfoʊmoʊ/, or FOH-moh, with the stress on the first syllable.
What is JOMO?
JOMO means the joy of missing out. It describes enjoying a quiet night in or opting out of social events without feeling left out.
Is FOMO a real condition?
It is a common, informal term for a feeling, not a medical diagnosis. Researchers have studied it in connection with social media use.