What does troll mean?
Troll most commonly denotes a person who deliberately causes disruption or hostility online, usually by posting provocative, insulting, or inflammatory material. As a verb, troll refers to this behaviour: an account may troll users by baiting them into arguments or provoking strong reactions. The word can be lightly playful when the activity is harmless and consensual, but it is also used seriously when the conduct constitutes harassment, abuse, or coordinated intimidation. A troll differs from an merely unpopular speaker because intent to provoke or disrupt is central to the modern meaning. The expression also has an older, literary sense referring to a grotesque or menacing giant from Scandinavian folklore. That folkloric creature was normally hostile and associated with caves, mountains, and dangerous places. Although this historical sense is still clearly understood, the online meaning now dominates contemporary usage in British, American, and international English. The word’s unusually vivid history allows it to carry both fantasy and figurative associations with persistent, annoying troublemakers.
A person who deliberately posts provoking, disruptive, or harassing material online; also, a grotesque or hostile giant from Scandinavian folklore.
"The article was flooded with troll comments that offered no argument beyond provoking an angry response."
The online sense is dominant today. The older person-denying sense can be offensive and is now uncommon.
To deliberately provoke or harass people by posting inflammatory, insulting, or disruptive material online.
"He was banned after he continued to troll the forum with abusive replies."
Usually implies an intention to elicit reactions or disrupt discussion; harmless playful use is also possible.
The standard plural of the noun in both the modern online sense and the older folklore sense.
"The platform removed several trolls that had coordinated hostile replies in the thread."
Troll travelled from Norse caves to internet comment threads, where the monsters proved easier to type than to ignore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does troll come from?
English borrowed troll from Old Norse trǫll, a word for a giant, monstrous, or hostile supernatural being, with close cognates in Scandinavian and Germanic languages. The modern computing senses developed in late-20th-century online culture, where trolling came to describe deliberately provoking reactions and causing disruption. The earlier folklore sense remained established in literature while the internet use became dominant in everyday speech.
Related word forms
How troll is actually used
The modern sense is informal but widely accepted, including in reporting about online abuse. Its meaning overlaps with trolling, provocation, and cyberbullying, although trolling specifically emphasizes deliberate provocation rather than every objectionable comment.
Easily confused with troll
To troll online is to provoke reactions, whereas to trawl is to search systematically through a large amount of material.