droll
UK /drəʊl/ US /droʊl/ Syllables: droll
Quick answer
Amusing in an odd, understated, or dry way.
Droll describes something that is amusing in an odd, quiet, understated way. A droll remark is not a big joke. It is a small, clever comment, often said with a straight face, that makes you smile more than laugh. People can be droll, and so can their jokes, stories, looks and films. The word often suggests something a little quaint or whimsical, and the tone is gentle, not cruel. Droll is slightly old-fashioned, so it appears more often in books and reviews than in casual speech. The adverb is drolly, and the noun is drollery.
"He made a droll comment that took a moment to land."Example sentences
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"He has a droll way of telling a story."
Level C1
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"The film is a droll comedy about a retired magician."
Level C1
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"She gave a droll look when the waiter called the soup a masterpiece."
Level C1
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"The professor was known for his droll remarks."
Level C1
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
Word family and forms
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "droll".
- droll humor
- a droll remark
- a droll smile
- droll wit
- a droll look
- droll sense of humor
Origin
Droll came into English in the 1600s from French drôle, meaning funny or odd. The French word seems to come from an older word for a merry fellow or rascal, and that may come from Middle Dutch drol, a goblin or a fat little man, which goes back to an Old Norse word related to troll. Droll and troll are doublets, which means they come from the same root.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
How to remember it
Droll rhymes with roll. Imagine a joke that rolls out quietly, with a straight face and no big laugh.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "He has a _____ way of telling a story."
Answer: droll
In your own words, what does "droll" mean?
Amusing in an odd, understated, or dry way.
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Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin, meanings, pronunciation, word family · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin, meanings · checked Oct 25, 2026
Last reviewed October 25, 2026. Report a mistake on this page