"caroling" means: A singing of carols.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
Definitions
A singing of carols.
"caroling" means: A singing of carols.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"caroling" means: A singing of carols.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
“Good grief South Caroling you are not sending us your best. Elect someone with a spine.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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Other words near "caroling" (C)
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Related terms
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Semantically related
- carolling97%
A singing of carols.
- carolling79%
Carolling refers to the practice of singing carols, most commonly Christmas carols, typically performed in groups going door to door in neighbourhoods or gathering in public spaces during the festive season. The term carries warm, communal connotations and is closely associated with tradition and seasonal celebration. In British English it retains the double-l spelling. While most often tied to Christmas, it can technically apply to any carol-singing occasion, though that broader usage is rare in practice.
- carioling66%
(Canada, historical) Travelling over the ice on a sleigh.
- sing66%
(intransitive) To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
- sing65%
(transitive) To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.