lollipop

American  

[lol-ee-pop] / ˈlɒl iˌpɒp /

Or lollypop

noun

• lollipops
  plural

1. a piece of hard candy attached to the end of a small stick that is held in the hand while the candy is licked.

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lollipop British  

/ ˈlɒlɪˌpɒp /

noun

1. a boiled sweet or toffee stuck on a small wooden stick

2. another word for ice lolly

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lollipops
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lollipop

1785–95; dial. lolly tongue + pop ¹

Explanation

A lollipop is hard candy on a stick that you lick or suck. You may suck on a lollipop and be surprised to find candy or gum in its center. Bonus! Some lollipops are small, round, and fruity, while others are swirls of color as big as your head. Still other lollipops are long and skinny, or filled with liquid or bubble gum centers. The thing they all have in common is the stick you hold while eating them. Guesses about the origin of the lolli or lolly part of this word include to loll, or "dangle" the tongue, or the north England dialect "tongue" meaning of lolly.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lollipop lollipops

A 91-year-old lollipop man from Greater Manchester is completing his final crossing after 28 years on the job.

From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2026

South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldborough said he had great support for lollipop people.

From BBC ● May 18, 2025

This pubescent Vance has been adorned with a rainbow propeller hat and a swirly lollipop, morphed into a patriotic Minion from Despicable Me, and rendered as lisping Hans Landa, the Nazi villain from Inglourious Basterds.

From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2025

As the likes accrue, it’s hard not to be envious, or at least intrigued, by influencers splayed atop a lollipop swing on TikTok.

From Slate ● Nov. 30, 2024

After a few feeble attempts to interrogate her, he handed her a lollipop and sent the family home.

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord

She bought lollipops and a teddy bear, and by 10 a.m. she had set up shop outside a campus dining hall where she consoled students Sunday morning with offers of “free mom hugs.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025

Home and Carousel operations director David Nejrup said giving lollipops to clubbers had been effective at other nightclubs and bars.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2025

At the bottom of the list, along with chewy sugar candies, are pure sugar candies such as lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, gummies and Smarties.

From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2024

Then it’s been rainbows and lollipops once the rest of America tuned in.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2024

A Mr. Daniels sounds like a grandfatherly type with pockets full of lollipops, which could be nice.

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt