fobs

IPA/fɒb/
IPA/fɑːb/

fobs — noun

  • fobssingular
  • fobsesplural

1. a small tag made of leather, plastic, or metal that keeps a set of keys together

1.nounB1
Definition

a small tag made of leather, plastic, or metal that keeps a set of keys together and can be clipped to a bag or belt loop.

Example

The receptionist hung a colourful fabric fob on the spare set of keys for the guest room.

fob as decorative key ring accessory

Hassan bought a leather fob stamped with his company logo for each member of his team.

Common collocations
  • leather fob
  • key fob
  • fob with a logo
  • attach a fob
  • clip a fob
Synonyms
  • key tag

    a simpler, more general term for a flat label on a key ring, often made of plastic or metal

  • key ring

    the ring itself that holds the keys, not the decorative tag — different object

Grammar Patterns

fob + noun (as modifier)

Usage Note

Often used in the plural ('fobs') when talking about multiple key-chain tags. This sense is broader than the electronic car key sense — it covers any ornamental or functional tag on a key ring.

Common Mistakes

I left my car fob on the table.' (when you mean the key-ring tag, not the remote).
I left my car key fob on the table.
use 'key fob' or 'car key fob' to avoid confusion with the electronic device.

2. a small electronic device attached to a car key that sends a signal to lock or u

2.nounB1
Definition

a small electronic device attached to a car key that sends a signal to lock or unlock the doors, open the boot or windows, or start the engine from a distance.

Example

Mira pressed the button on her car fob and the headlights flashed twice.

fob used to send a wireless signal

The rental agent handed Hamza a key fob and pointed to a blue sedan in the corner of the lot.

Common collocations
  • car fob
  • key fob battery
  • fob signal
  • press the fob
  • replace the fob
Synonyms
  • remote keyless entry

    the technical system name, not the device itself — usually shortened to 'keyless entry'

  • smart key

    a fob that allows keyless start and lock, often used as a broader term

Grammar Patterns

car fob

key fob + verb

Usage Note

In modern everyday speech, 'key fob' or just 'fob' almost always refers to the electronic remote, not a decorative tag. The devices often include a flip-out metal key blade for emergencies.

Common Mistakes

I need a new battery for my car key remote fob key.
I need a new battery for my car key fob.
don't stack redundant words; 'car key fob' or 'key fob' is standard.

3. a short decorative chain, ribbon, or strap that men once used to hang a pocket w

3.nounC1
Definition

a short decorative chain, ribbon, or strap that men once used to hang a pocket watch from their waistcoat, often with a small charm dangling at the end.

Example

The antique dealer held up a silver watch fob with an engraved lion and offered it to the collector.

watch fob as antique accessory

Lucía's grandfather kept his pocket watch in his vest and let the gold fob chain hang across the front.

Common collocations
  • watch fob
  • fob chain
  • gold fob
  • silver fob
  • fob charm
Synonyms
  • watch chain

    the chain itself, without the decorative charm — more general and still in limited modern use

  • watch ribbon

    a ribbon used instead of a metal chain, less common

Grammar Patterns

fob + chain

watch fob

Usage Note

This sense is largely historical. Today you are most likely to encounter it in antique shops, historical costume guides, or vintage fashion writing. Distinguish from sense 1 (key-chain tag) and sense 4 (the pocket itself).

Common Mistakes

He pulled the watch out of his fob.' (ambiguous — fob could be chain or pocket).
He pulled the watch out of his waistcoat fob pocket.
specify 'fob pocket' for the pouch, 'watch fob' for the chain.

4. a small pocket sewn into a waistcoat or the waistband of trousers, originally ma

4.nounC1
Definition

a small pocket sewn into a waistcoat or the waistband of trousers, originally made so a man could keep a pocket watch safe inside.

Example

The tailor sewed a leather lining inside the fob so the watch would not scratch the fabric of the vest.

fob as a sewn-in pocket

Bao slipped the antique timepiece into the fob of his tweed waistcoat before the wedding ceremony.

Common collocations
  • fob pocket
  • waistcoat fob
  • trouser fob
  • stitch a fob
  • lined fob
Synonyms
  • watch pocket

    the modern term for a small pocket in trousers, originally for a watch

  • coin pocket

    the small interior pocket on jeans, now commonly used for coins rather than watches

Grammar Patterns

fob pocket

in the fob

Usage Note

Modern trousers and jeans sometimes include a small 'watch pocket' (often called a coin pocket or a fifth pocket) inside the main right pocket — this is a descendant of the original fob. The term 'fob' for this pocket is now very rare in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

He put the coins in his fob pocket.
He put the coins in the small coin pocket of his jeans.
today the pocket is usually called a 'coin pocket' or 'watch pocket', not 'fob'.

fobs — verb

Word family

  • fob
    nounB1
  • fob
    verbC2
  • fob off
    phrasal verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

A 'key fob' (or simply 'fob') is specifically the small electronic device that communicates wirelessly with a car to lock and unlock doors or start the engine. A 'remote control' is a much broader term — it can operate a TV, a garage door, or a toy car, while a 'fob' is almost always associated with vehicles and security access. 'Smart key' refers to a keyless-entry system that allows the driver to keep the fob in a pocket and start the car by pressing a button; it is a type of fob-based technology. 'Keyless entry' is the system itself, not the physical device: you would say 'this car has keyless entry' (the feature) but 'I lost my key fob' (the object). In everyday conversation, 'key fob' is the most natural word when a driver needs to replace or use the device.

key fobremote controlsmart keykeyless entry

Common collocations

Nouns

  • key fob
  • car fob
  • watch fob
  • fob pocket
  • fob chain

Phrases

  • fob someone off with something
  • fob something off on someone

Prepositions

  • fob for keys
  • fob on a chain
  • fob off on someone

Etymology

GermanEnglish

The word 'fob' first appeared in English around the 1600s to describe a small pocket sewn into waistbands. By the 1700s it had come to refer to the short chain or ribbon attached to a pocket watch. The key-ring and electronic-key meanings are modern developments from the late 1900s. The verb meaning 'deceive' likely came from German 'foppen' meaning 'to fool or hoax', and may have merged with the noun through the idea of hiding or tucking something away.

First known use

1630

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 4 Verb