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

Elizabeth Colligan, a local lollipop lady known as Betty, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

This meant that no warnings could be put on the 14 gantries and lollipop signs along that stretch of the motorway.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

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

“I know what I need to do,” Fizz says, tapping my shoulder with a happy-face lollipop.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

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

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

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024

Pamela, for instance, was known to perform as the Lollipop Lady, who, of course, handed out lollipops to park guests, Henck told The Times in 2006.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2023

One of the earliest uses of the phrase can be traced back to a 2022 viral post in which a man appears to hand out lollipops to women on a French street.

From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2023

Her scrubs have lollipops on them, even though this isn’t a pediatric unit.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman