flash mob
noun
: a group of people summoned (as by email or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The usually separate phenomena of a street takeover by cars and flash mob shoplifting merged in Los Angeles this week, prompting authorities to sound an alarm. 
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022 The spectators then formed a ‘flash mob’ of looters and rushed a nearby 7-Eleven. Gregory Yeestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 All ages, genders and abilities welcome to dance or just to watch this flash mob/community performance. San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2022 Once positioned, the troupe launched into a mini routine that harkened back to the early 2000’s flash mob. Kwasi Boadi, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2022 Of course, nobody intends to camp in a flash mob, amid the toilet paper fluttering from any tree limb that has not already been snapped off for roasting weenies. Outside Online, 3 June 2021 With every tsunami warning, there’s always a small contingent of mixed nuts who drift down to watch the action and form a flash mob of Darwin Award nominees. Bruce Barcott, Outside Online, 25 Aug. 2011 Another video online showed what looked like a youth flash mob in a factory or meeting hall, wearing black T-shirts with a Z and dancing in formation amid a sea of Russian flags. New York Times, 7 Mar. 2022 Pro-democracy flash mob marches were held in several places before the start of the strike in the early morning hours, when clashes with police and soldiers are less likely. Grant Peck, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2022 See More
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022 The spectators then formed a ‘flash mob’ of looters and rushed a nearby 7-Eleven. Gregory Yeestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 All ages, genders and abilities welcome to dance or just to watch this flash mob/community performance. San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2022 Once positioned, the troupe launched into a mini routine that harkened back to the early 2000’s flash mob. Kwasi Boadi, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2022 Of course, nobody intends to camp in a flash mob, amid the toilet paper fluttering from any tree limb that has not already been snapped off for roasting weenies. Outside Online, 3 June 2021 With every tsunami warning, there’s always a small contingent of mixed nuts who drift down to watch the action and form a flash mob of Darwin Award nominees. Bruce Barcott, Outside Online, 25 Aug. 2011 Another video online showed what looked like a youth flash mob in a factory or meeting hall, wearing black T-shirts with a Z and dancing in formation amid a sea of Russian flags. New York Times, 7 Mar. 2022 Pro-democracy flash mob marches were held in several places before the start of the strike in the early morning hours, when clashes with police and soldiers are less likely. Grant Peck, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
2003, in the meaning defined above