moll: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal
Quick answer
What does “moll” mean?
A female companion of a criminal or gangster.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A female companion of a criminal or gangster.
A girlfriend or female companion, especially one associated with a tough or criminal milieu; also used historically as a diminutive form of the female name Mary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more associated with historical UK gangster culture (e.g., Kray twins era) in British usage, while in American usage it is strongly tied to 1920s-30s Prohibition-era gangsters and film noir.
Connotations
Equally negative in both variants, implying a woman of low morals connected to crime.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary speech in both regions, primarily found in historical contexts, crime fiction, or period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “moll” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + moll[Possessive] + mollVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or sociological studies of crime.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be recognized but not actively used.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moll”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moll”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moll”
- Using it as a neutral term for any girlfriend.
- Confusing it with the verb 'to moll' (to soften).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is largely archaic and confined to historical contexts or period-specific fiction and film.
Yes, it is a derogatory term that objectifies women and associates them with crime and low social status.
No, it is exclusively a term for a female companion.
It is a specific idiom referring to a gangster's female companion who is also armed or involved in violent crime.
A female companion of a criminal or gangster.
Moll is usually informal in register.
Moll: in British English it is pronounced /mɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gun moll”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOBster's girLfriend -> MOLL.
Conceptual Metaphor
A woman as the property or accessory of a criminal man.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'moll'?