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

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Etymology

Origin of lollipop

1785–95; dial. lolly tongue + pop ¹

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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

Colligan, a local lollipop lady known as Betty, was described as a "nice wee lady" by neighbours on Cardowan Road.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

At an assisted-living home, Vinit Shinde lay paralyzed in bed attempting to suck on a lollipop.

From Slate ● Dec. 8, 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

"When him and Ernie became huge, he must have sometimes looked at that wooden lollipop and thought 'I had no idea'," Ms Fielding said.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025

There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand—glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

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

There’s even a water tower in the center of town painted to look like it’s held up by the long-lived lollipops.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2024

During Vodou ceremonies, lwa are offered treats ranging from papayas and coffee to popcorn, lollipops and cheese puffs.

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024

The Kool-Aid smelled like the lollipops, but it was bitter.

From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince

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