Mob vs. Crowd: What's the Difference?
By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
A mob is often a disorderly group with intent to cause trouble, while a crowd is a large number of people gathered together.
Key Differences
"Mob" and "Crowd" are words often used interchangeably, but they possess distinct nuances. A "Mob" typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting a disorderly or unruly group, possibly with violent tendencies or intent. Conversely, "Crowd" is a neutral term that simply denotes a large number of people in one place, without implying a specific behavior.
When considering the contexts in which these words appear, "Mob" often emerges in situations where there's potential for unrest, such as protests that become violent. "Crowd," on the other hand, can refer to any significant gathering of individuals, whether at a concert, sporting event, or public transport.
Etymologically, "Mob" originates from the Latin "mobile vulgus," meaning "fickle crowd." This origin underscores the volatile nature traditionally associated with a mob. In contrast, "Crowd" stems from Middle English "crowden," meaning "to press or compress," highlighting the density of people.
In media, a "Mob" is frequently portrayed as chaotic or menacing, a group that poses a threat. "Crowd," however, is used more generically, simply indicating many individuals in close proximity. Recognizing the distinctions between these terms can enable more precise and effective communication.
Comparison Chart
Connotation
Negative (disorderly, possibly violent)
Neutral (simply a gathering of people)
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Etymology
Latin "mobile vulgus"
Middle English "crowden"
Common Contexts
Riots, protests
Concerts, sporting events, stations
Implied Behavior
Unruly, aggressive
Neutral
Grammatical Use
Noun
Noun
Mob and Crowd Definitions
Mob
A large and disorderly group of people.
The mob stormed the city hall in protest.
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Crowd
A large number of people gathered together in one place.
The crowd cheered as the band took the stage.
Mob
The organized underworld of criminals.
He owed money to the mob and was in hiding.
Crowd
A group of people who share a common interest or aspect.
She found her crowd in college with fellow artists.
Mob
Australian term for a flock or herd of animals.
He's herding a mob of sheep to the barn.
Crowd
To fill a space with excessive numbers.
People crowded the streets during the parade.
Mob
A mass of people indulging in reckless behavior.
A shopping mob hit the stores on Black Friday.
Crowd
A large number of persons gathered together; a throng.
Mob
An indiscriminate or loosely associated group of things.
A mob of ideas swirled in his head.
Crowd
The common people; the populace.
Mob
A large and often disorderly crowd. ]
Crowd
A group of people united by a common characteristic, as age, interest, or vocation
The over-30 crowd.
Mob
A large or disorderly group of people; especially one bent on riotous or destructive action.
Crowd
A group of people attending a public function; an audience
The play drew a small but appreciative crowd.
Mob
(archaic) The lower classes of a community; the rabble.
Crowd
A large number of things positioned or considered together.
Mob
(collective noun) A group of animals such as horses or cattle.
Crowd
An ancient Celtic stringed instrument that was bowed or plucked. Also called crwth.
Mob
(collective noun) A group of kangaroos.
Crowd
Chiefly British A fiddle.
Mob
(collective noun) A flock of emus.
Crowd
To gather together in a limited space
The children crowded around the TV.
Mob
A mafia: a group that engages in organized crime.
Crowd
To move forward by pressing or shoving
A bevy of reporters crowded toward the candidate.
Mob
(video games) A non-player character, especially one that exists to be fought or killed to further the progression of the story or game.
Crowd
To force by pressing or shoving
Police crowded the spectators back to the viewing stand.
Mob
(Australian Aboriginal) A group of Aboriginal people associated with an extended family group, clan group or wider community group, from a particular place or country.
Crowd
To force away by taking up space; displace
Urban sprawl crowded the farmers out of the valley.
Mob
(obsolete) A promiscuous woman; a harlot or wench; a prostitute.
Crowd
To draw or stand very near or too near to
The batter crowded the plate. Please don't crowd me.
Mob
A mob cap.
Crowd
To press, cram, or force tightly together
Crowded the clothes into the closet.
Mob
Abbr of mobile phone
Crowd
To fill or occupy to overflowing
Books crowded the shelves.
Mob
(transitive) To crowd around (someone), sometimes with hostility.
The fans mobbed a well-dressed couple who resembled their idols.
Crowd
(Informal) To put pressure on; assail
Dark thoughts were crowding him.
Mob
(transitive) To crowd into or around a place.
The shoppers mobbed the store on the first day of the sale.
Crowd
(intransitive) To press forward; to advance by pushing.
The man crowded into the packed room.
Mob
(transitive) To wrap up in, or cover with, a cowl.
Crowd
(intransitive) To press together or collect in numbers
They crowded through the archway and into the park.
Mob
A mobcap.
Crowd
(transitive) To press or drive together, especially into a small space; to cram.
He tried to crowd too many cows into the cow-pen.
Mob
The lower classes of a community; the populace, or the lowest part of it.
A cluster of mob were making themselves merry with their betters.
Crowd
(transitive) To fill by pressing or thronging together
Mob
A throng; a rabble; esp., an unlawful or riotous assembly; a disorderly crowd.
The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease.
Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.
Confused by brainless mobs.
Crowd
To push, to press, to shove.
They tried to crowd her off the sidewalk.
Mob
To wrap up in, or cover with, a cowl.
Crowd
(nautical) To approach another ship too closely when it has right of way.
Mob
To crowd about, as a mob, and attack or annoy; as, to mob a house or a person.
Crowd
To carry excessive sail in the hope of moving faster.
Mob
A disorderly crowd of people
Crowd
(transitive) To press by solicitation; to urge; to dun; hence, to treat discourteously or unreasonably.
Mob
A loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
Crowd
To play on a crowd; to fiddle.
Mob
An association of criminals;
Police tried to break up the gang
A pack of thieves
Crowd
A group of people congregated or collected into a close body without order.
After the movie let out, a crowd of people pushed through the exit doors.
Mob
Press tightly together or cram;
The crowd packed the auditorium
Crowd
Several things collected or closely pressed together; also, some things adjacent to each other.
There was a crowd of toys pushed beneath the couch where the children were playing.
Crowd
(with definite article) The so-called lower orders of people; the populace, vulgar.
Crowd
A group of people united or at least characterised by a common interest.
That obscure author's fans were a nerdy crowd which hardly ever interacted before the Internet age.
We're concerned that our daughter has fallen in with a bad crowd.
Crowd
(obsolete) crwth
Crowd
A fiddle.
Crowd
To push, to press, to shove.
Crowd
To press or drive together; to mass together.
Crowd
To fill by pressing or thronging together; hence, to encumber by excess of numbers or quantity.
The balconies and verandas were crowded with spectators, anxious to behold their future sovereign.
Crowd
To press by solicitation; to urge; to dun; hence, to treat discourteously or unreasonably.
Crowd
To press together or collect in numbers; to swarm; to throng.
The whole company crowded about the fire.
Images came crowding on his mind faster than he could put them into words.
Crowd
To urge or press forward; to force one's self; as, a man crowds into a room.
Crowd
To play on a crowd; to fiddle.
Crowd
A number of things collected or closely pressed together; also, a number of things adjacent to each other.
A crowd of islands.
Crowd
A number of persons congregated or collected into a close body without order; a throng.
The crowd of Vanity Fair.
Crowds that stream from yawning doors.
Crowd
The lower orders of people; the populace; the vulgar; the rabble; the mob.
To fool the crowd with glorious lies.
He went not with the crowd to see a shrine.
Crowd
An ancient instrument of music with six strings; a kind of violin, being the oldest known stringed instrument played with a bow.
A lackey that . . . can warble upon a crowd a little.
Crowd
A large number of things or people considered together;
A crowd of insects assembled around the flowers
Crowd
An informal body of friends;
He still hangs out with the same crowd
Crowd
Cause to herd, drive, or crowd together;
We herded the children into a spare classroom
Crowd
Fill or occupy to the point of overflowing;
The students crowded the auditorium
Crowd
To gather together in large numbers;
Men in straw boaters and waxed mustaches crowded the verandah
Crowd
Approach a certain age or speed;
She is pushing fifty
Crowd
To push or force by pressing.
He crowded her against the wall to make way.
FAQs
Are "Mob" and "Crowd" synonymous?
While related, "Mob" usually implies a disorderly group, and "Crowd" denotes a large gathering without a behavioral implication.
Can "Mob" be used in a positive context?
Rarely. "Mob" typically has negative connotations of chaos or unruly behavior.
Can "Mob" refer to organized crime?
Yes, "Mob" can refer to the organized underworld of criminals, especially in American context.
Can "Crowd" be used as a verb?
Yes, as in "He crowded her into the corner."
Is "Mob mentality" a common phrase?
Yes, it refers to how people in a group can be influenced to act collectively without planned direction.
Is a "Mob" always smaller than a "Crowd"?
Not necessarily. Both can refer to large numbers of people. Size isn't the distinguishing factor.
What's the origin of "Mob"?
It's short for the Latin "mobile vulgus," meaning "fickle crowd."
Is "Crowd" always physical in context?
No, it can be metaphorical, as in "a crowd of ideas."
Is "Crowd" always neutral in meaning?
While generally neutral, context can give it positive or negative undertones.
Can "Crowd" refer to online gatherings?
Yes, like in the term "crowdsourcing."
Does "Mob" have specific regional uses?
In Australian English, "Mob" can refer to a group of animals, like sheep.
Can both words be used in formal writing?
While both can be used, "Mob" might be less common in a very formal context due to its negative connotations.
Are there idioms involving these words?
Yes, such as "face in the crowd" or "mob rule."
Is "Mob" used in technology or online contexts?
Less commonly, though "mob programming" is a tech term for a group working on the same task.
Does "Mob" always imply violence?
No, but it often carries implications of disorder or unruliness.
Can "Crowd" denote familiarity?
Yes, it can refer to one's own group or circle, as in "my usual crowd."
Which word is older in usage, "Mob" or "Crowd"?
"Crowd" has older English roots, whereas "Mob" came later from Latin.
Can "Crowd" imply pressure or force?
Yes, especially when used as a verb.
What's the plural form of "Mob"?
Mobs.
Is "Crowd" always about people?
Mostly, but it can be metaphorical, referring to a large number of items or ideas.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
