mobile

The word "mobile" is used to describe movement. If someone or something is mobile, it moves easily.

• Mobile technology makes it easier than ever for people to communicate with each other around the world.
• A cell phone is a mobile device. Tablet computers such as the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab are also mobile devices.
• The United States is a country with a very mobile society. People move up and down the social and economic ladder. They also frequently relocate.
• A friend of mine broke his leg and has to remain in the hospital. His leg is immobile. (immobile = unable to move)

The word "mobility" is the noun form for this word:

• Mobility is an important quality for a business these days.
• Poor health and old age sometimes limit a person’s mobility.
• Mobility is sometimes hampered by weather conditions. (hamper = prevent)
• Upward mobility in the United States is available to anyone who is willing to work hard. (upward mobility = change in economic class)

The word "mobilize" is a verb. When things or people are mobilized, they are organized for a particular purpose:

• When flooding threatened the town, volunteers were quickly mobilized to fill sandbags and fight against the rising water.
• People in Syria mobilized to fight against the government.
• A major snowstorm on the east coast immobilized travelers with two feet of snow. (immobilize = unable to move.)

A mobile home is a home that you can easily move from one place to another.

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This page was first published on March 28, 2013. It was updated on February 10, 2017.