Slang dictionary · English internet slang · English internet slang
What does FOMO mean?
Also written: fear of missing out, fomo, FOMO trading
In short
FOMO stands for "fear of missing out": the worried feeling that other people are at an event, having fun or making money without you, often set off by what you see on social media. The abbreviation was popularised by Patrick McGinnis in a 2004 article for Harvard Business School's student paper. Today it is used for parties and trips, and also for buying something, especially stocks or crypto, just because everyone else is.
Where FOMO comes from
The phrase "fear of missing out" was used by marketing strategist Dan Herman in a 2000 paper. The short form FOMO was coined and popularised by Patrick J. McGinnis, then a Harvard Business School student, in a 2004 op-ed in The Harbus. Smartphones and social feeds made the feeling, and the word, part of everyday life in the 2010s.
How to use it
Use it as a noun ("I have FOMO", "the FOMO is real") or as a description ("FOMO buying"). The opposite, JOMO, is the "joy of missing out".
- "Everyone's posting from the festival and I'm home with a cold. Major FOMO."
- "I only came because of FOMO, honestly."
- "Don't FOMO into that coin just because it went up 40% today."
- "I'm skipping the party. Choosing JOMO tonight."
FOMO in money and shopping
In investing, FOMO means buying because a price is rising fast and you are afraid of missing the gains, not because of research. Sellers use the same feeling with "only 2 left" and countdown timers. Calling it FOMO is a way to name the urge before acting on it.
Similar words
| Term | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| JOMO | joy of missing out | the opposite: happy to stay home |
| FOBO | fear of a better option | can't commit in case something better comes |
| YOLO | you only live once | a reason to do it, not a worry |
FAQ
What does FOMO stand for?
Fear of missing out.
Is FOMO a real psychological term?
It started as everyday language, but researchers now study it, mostly in connection with social media use and anxiety.
What is FOMO in crypto or stocks?
Buying an asset because its price is rising fast and you fear missing the gains, often near the top.