According to Dictionary, the term ROFL stands for rolling or rolled on the floor laughing. The term is quite frequently used when someone is replying to something very funny in a written response.
This common expression is a slang term that is used widely over many social media platforms and smartphone applications, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and everyday text messages.
While ROFL may indeed be one of the most commonly used acronyms to express spirited laughter, it is sometimes combined with other internet slang abbreviations to form a new initialism. The most popular is easily ROFLMAO, which in turn means “rolling on the floor laughing my a** off.”
Due to the sheer popularity of the term ROFL on the internet, many have tightened down the original phrase from “rolling on the floor laughing” to simply saying “rolling.” Consequently, you may come across a sentence such as “OMG, I am rolling over here,” which lets us know that the person is laughing quite heartily.
So, you can see that ROFL and “rolling” mean the same thing in this scenario (but not in every scenario, as “rolling” can also refer to the effects of MDMA).
Does ROFL Have Any Other Meanings?
According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym ROFL has a wide variety of other meanings beyond the traditional roll on the floor laughing. While you could say these are valid by definition, they are by far a less common definition and should be used sparsely to eliminate any confusion:
Routing on Flat Labels (routing algorithm)
Rainbow Organic Foods & Lifestyles (Rick Riordan)
Rogue of Forbidden Legion (gaming clan)
Rene Ord for Lommepengene (Danish TV program)
Running on Four Legs
Riding on Flying Llamas
Reaching Out For Love
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That’s not to say that these alternate definitions don’t have a time and place. Just be sure that if you do use one of these alternative meanings, make sure it is in the proper context. You need to provide your target audience with proper context so they can decipher your intended meaning.
How Is ROFL Used?
ROFL is an exceptional replacement for the standard LOL and can communicate how funny you find a situation. It can be used at both ends of your sentence. Keep in mind, it is rather informal, so it’s always best used among family and peers—not the workplace.
ROFL! That is indeed a knee slapper!
ROFL! Thank you for sending that; it made my week!
ROFL! I must be losing my marbles; I didn’t realize it was already October!
ROFL! You just cured my case of the Mondays!
That quiz was so ridiculously difficult — I am literally ROFL!
You will never guess what I saw on the way to work today! I’m ROFL!
That meme killed me, ROFL!
I slipped on the ice, and now I’m ROFL!
OMG! Did you hear them chatting? WTF, ROFL, HAHA!
Did you see what the boss was wearing to work today? I’m ROFL!
She named her puppy Waffles; I am legit ROFL RN!
What Are Synonyms for ROFL?
Below, find synonyms and related terms for ROFL:
PMSL (P*ssing Myself Laughing)
ROFLMAO (Rolling on the Floor Laughing My A** Off)
ROFLCOPTER (Rolling on the Floor Turing Like A Helicopter)
LULZ (Variant for Laughing Out Loud)
LOLL (Laughing Out Loud Literally)
ROFLOL (Rolling on the Floor Laughing Out Loud)
LOL (Laughing Out Loud)
LMAO (Laughing My Ass Off)
BWAHAHA (Boisterous laughter)
BLOL (Big Laugh Out Loud)
LOLED (Laugh Out Loud in past tense)
SLOL (Seriously Laughing Out Loud)
TLOL (Truly Laughing Out Loud)
MWAHAHA (Mimicking evil laughter)
HAHAHA (Imitating laughter)
LQTM (Laughing Quietly To Myself)
LMHO (Laughing My Head Off)
LSMH (Laughing & Shaking My Head)
What Are Other Common Slang Terms?
When taking a glance at the wide array of slang terms that can be used in text messaging or the internet, you may be disheartened. Worry not; with this list from Turbo Future, you will be using slang terms like a licensed professional in an instant.
Overall, ROFL means rolling on the floor laughing and is often used to respond to written communications when someone finds a comment quite hilarious. While some may say ROFL is an example of an initialism and others will always argue it’s an acronym, no one denies the meaning of the term ROFL.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.