FOBO
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Initialism of fear of a better option.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The whole thing actually started with FOBO, or Fear of a Better Option. It was the term I came up with to explain the fact that everyone I knew at school was always looking for something better.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “FOBO” mean?
Initialism of fear of a better option.
Is “FOBO” formal or informal?
FOBO is generally slang.