Ladder means: A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs .. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
ladder
A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps).
Seen in the wild
11 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
Louisville Ladder 20-Foot Fiberglass Extension Ladder, 300-Pound Load Capacity, Type IA, L-3022-20PT #LouisvilleLadder #HomeImprovement #ExtensionLadder #FiberglassLadder #Ladder #300PoundCapacity
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BlueskyMay 2026
The stats have revealed which club gets the rub of the green from umpires. AFL free kick ladder >>> zerohanger.com/jefdq #AFL
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BlueskyMay 2026
Confer Plastics 7200 Roll Guard 48" to 56" Adjustable A Frame Safety Ladder for Above Ground Outdoor Patio Swimming Pool Platform Ladder with Step Barrier, Warm Grey #rollguard #7200 #pool #adjustable #aframe #outdoor
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BlueskyMay 2026
Louisville Ladder 5-Foot Fiberglass Step Ladder, 250-Pound Load Capacity, Type I, FS2005 #Stability #Safety #NonConductive
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BlueskyMay 2026
Yep. There IS a Magic Money Tree. Just not for those further down the ladder.
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Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps).
The form of a man was seen to enter, and both the females rushed up the ladder, as if equally afraid of the consequences. The stranger secured the door, and first examining the lower room with great care, he cautiously ascended the ladder.
Origin: , laddre; from , from , from , from , from to lean. Compare , , , , , ; also , and . See lean, which is related to lid. Further include , , , čix; ,. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Ladder means: A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs .. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
ladder means: A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs .. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Heard in the wild
“Louisville Ladder 20-Foot Fiberglass Extension Ladder, 300-Pound Load Capacity, Type IA, L-3022-20PT #LouisvilleLadder #HomeImprovement #ExtensionLadder #FiberglassLadder #Ladder #300PoundCapacity”
— Bluesky· May 2026“The stats have revealed which club gets the rub of the green from umpires. AFL free kick ladder >>> zerohanger.com/jefdq #AFL”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Confer Plastics 7200 Roll Guard 48" to 56" Adjustable A Frame Safety Ladder for Above Ground Outdoor Patio Swimming Pool Platform Ladder with Step Barrier, Warm Grey #rollguard #7200 #pool #adjustable #aframe #outdoor”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Louisville Ladder 5-Foot Fiberglass Step Ladder, 250-Pound Load Capacity, Type I, FS2005 #Stability #Safety #NonConductive”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Yep. There IS a Magic Money Tree. Just not for those further down the ladder.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(figuratively) The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, such as the corporate ladder.
And why wouldn't I just turn around, not take a chance on the bad luck of walking under a ladder? Because, beyond it, there was Pluckie. My little dog was leashed to a bush, lunging and barking. If the leash came loose, her lunge could s…
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“www.wordsie.com (a Daily Word Ladder Game)”
— r/words· Apr 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(figuratively) A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.
Ladders are heavy and unwieldy. Handle them properly to avoid damaging property and to make sure you don't injure yourself. Carry a ladder upright, not slung across your shoulder. Hold the ladder vertically, bend your knees slightly, the…
For parents
Ladder means: A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
ladder means: A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Heard in the wild
“1v1 champion ladder with the boy”
— Bluesky· May 2026“They blew away all the green. AND their noise kills Wales. Trump said the ladder.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Xin Li, TongYi Li, JingYu Peng, Yu Wang: Multiple Bulk-Boundary Correspondences and Anomalous Modes in a Non-Hermitian Creutz Ladder https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.00954 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.00954 https://arxiv.org/html/2605.00954”
— Bluesky· May 2026“What if the ladder you're climbing was never meant for you? #LeadershipLessons#PurposeDrivenLife#FaithAndWork#RedefineSuccess#GrowthMindset#LifeWisdom#PurposeOverPaycheck#CallingOverCareer”
— Bluesky· May 2026“The most unforgivable of all is #ClarenceThomas who got everything he has through the #CivilRightsAct and then pulled the ladder up behind him.”
— 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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Other words near "ladder" (L)
lacqueristalacrosstitutelactardlactonaziladlad cultureladder of opportunityladdieLaddiesladdishladdishnessladdism
Browse all slang words starting with L.