Lol means: Laughing Out Loud. Used to mark text as humorous or to soften a message. Increasingly used ironically or as a verbal tic rather than to indicate actual laughter - younger users often deploy "lol". 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.
lol
Laughing Out Loud.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1990 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
Laughing Out Loud. Used to mark text as humorous or to soften a message. Increasingly used ironically or as a verbal tic rather than to indicate actual laughter — younger users often deploy "lol" sarcastically while reserving 💀 or 😭 for genuine amusement.
"that's wild lol"
Lol means: Laughing Out Loud. Used to mark text as humorous or to soften a message. Increasingly used ironically or as a verbal tic rather than to indicate actual laughter - younger users often deploy "lol". 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.
lol means: Laughing Out Loud. Used to mark text as humorous or to soften a message. Increasingly used ironically or as a verbal tic rather than to indicate actual laughter - younger users. 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.
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LOL (format), an international reality television format competition of comedians from each country based on a 2016 original Japanese series
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LOL (2012 film), an American remake of the 2008 French film starring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore
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"LOL" (Californication), an episode of Californication
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LOL (2006 film), a film by Joe Swanberg
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LOL (Laughing Out Loud), a 2008 French comedy movie starring Christa Theret and Sophie Marceau
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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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🌐About Internet & Memes slang
Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.
See all Internet & Memes slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- lolz77%
(Internet slang, leet, dated) Used to express laughter, often in a sarcastic fashion.
- ROFL73%
Rolling On Floor Laughing. Used to indicate stronger amusement than "lol." More dated than "lol" — primarily used ironically now.
- LOLer71%
(Internet slang) Something that causes one to laugh out loud.
- lolsob70%
(Internet slang) Representing simultaneous laughter and crying.