What does frolic mean?
Frolic means to play or move about in a lively, cheerful way — the skipping, chasing, tumbling energy of puppies in a park, lambs in a spring meadow, or children at the seaside. It works as both a verb ('the dolphins frolicked in the wake') and, less commonly, a noun referring to an episode of merry fun. Its connotations are almost entirely positive and innocent, suggesting unselfconscious joy rather than wild or destructive high spirits, which is why writers reach for it when describing animals, children, and scenes of idyllic leisure. Borrowed into English in the early sixteenth century from Dutch 'vrolijk', meaning merry or glad, it carries a linguistic reminder that playfulness crossed borders along with everything else. Related forms include the plural noun 'frolics' and the adjective 'frolicsome'. It remains a vivid, evocative choice whenever a writer wants to convey pure, buoyant delight in motion.
To play or behave in a lively, joyful, playful manner.
"Otters frolicked on the riverbank, sliding down the mud into the water."
Most often applied to animals and children, or used descriptively of carefree scenes.
A playful or merry episode; a piece of lively fun.
"The picnic turned into a general frolic once the music started."
Applies to the noun form; 'frolics' refers to instances or episodes of merry play.
"The diaries record the young prince's summer frolics by the seaside."
This word for carefree play was borrowed straight from the Dutch — whose own 'vrolijk' still sounds suspiciously like a party waiting to happen.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of frolic
Frolic entered English in the early sixteenth century as a borrowing from Middle Dutch 'vrolijk' (or its close relative 'verloot'), meaning merry or glad. The Dutch term combines elements meaning 'cheerful' with a suffix indicating likeness, essentially 'merry-like'. Its German cousin 'fröhlich' shares the same Germanic ancestry, so frolic belongs to a small family of joy-related words that English absorbed from its Low Countries trading partners. Over time it shifted from describing general cheerfulness toward denoting lively, playful behavior specifically.
Related word forms
How frolic is actually used
As a verb it is typically used of animals and children, or in nostalgic descriptions of carefree pleasure; the noun sense is now comparatively rare and slightly literary. The word carries warm, innocent connotations rather than rowdy ones, and suits informal and descriptive writing alike.