- It has a generally negative connotation that expresses a feeling of discontentment. However, it is less negative than the alternative: “I feel left out or excluded,” which is generally associated with being overly emotional or desperate. Furthermore, when you tell someone you feel left out, it often has an accusatory tone. Someone is leaving you out. In contrast, FOMO is neutral. No one is intentionally leaving you out, you just wish you were able to attend the event. It originated from text/cyber lingo and was initially used in written form, much like lol, lmao, rotflmao, etc. However, it is now spoken out loud and considered verbal slang.
FOMO
acronym Noun
It is an acronym meaning: “fear of missing out.” A state of anxiety resulting from feeling left out or feeling as if you are missing out on an amazing experience.
Etymology : acronym formed from the words “fear of missing out.”
Source : “Do you have FOMO about missing the parade?” (Friend, November 2017)
Last modified: 29 November 2017