What Does DL Mean?

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Decoding and demystifying the social media slang term

Co-authored by Dean Modah and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: January 9, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Meaning
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• History of the Term
|
• Related Terms
|
• Other Possible Meanings
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• More Slang Acronyms
|
• Video

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You’ve seen those 2 letters used everywhere on TikTok. Usually it’s in videos that say something like, “How to know if someone is DL.” But what does “DL” even mean? And what does it mean for someone to “be DL?” Is it a bad thing? We’ll tell you upfront that the term’s got lots of history, and there’s more nuance to it than you might think. We’ll fill you in on what “DL” means, its origin, and some common misconceptions surrounding the term. Then, we’ll give you some related terms and other possible definitions, just to cover your bases.

Things You Should Know

• “DL” is an abbreviation that means “down low,” which is another way to say that something is secret or on a need-to-know basis.
• “Down low” is a slang term that refers to a person who is publicly straight but secretly gay.
• “DL” might also be short for “download,” “distance learning,” or “defensive lineman.”

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Section 1 of 5:

Meaning

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1. 
   1
   “DL” stands for “down low.” Generally, the term means “in secret.” To keep something “on the down low” means to hide it or keep it from being known to others.

   • Them: “Hey, I just picked up the gift you asked me to get for Martha!”
   • You: “Lower your voice, we’re keeping that on the DL until the party.”
2. 
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   “Down low” may refer to a closeted gay person. More specifically, it refers to a gay man who maintains that he is straight in public settings, but who hooks up with other gay men in private. The term is primarily used in Black LGBT communities and on LGBT dating apps, like Grindr.

   • “Can you keep a secret? I’m not super into girls. I’m sorta DL.”
   • A person might be DL for a number of reasons, most commonly to dodge negative social consequences of being outed as LGBT.
   • This is usually the intended meaning when referring to a particular person, like when TikTok users say, “How to tell if someone is DL.”
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Section 2 of 5:

History of the Term

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1. 
   1
   “DL” emerged in Black LGBT circles in the 90s. It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly the term originated, but it was likely coined in the mid-90s. Contrary to similar terms like “closeted,” “down low” described an active subculture of specifically Black men who identified with the term and found that it described their particular circumstances and the risks involved in being both Black and gay.

   • The concept of “down low” lifestyles was notably explored by the author E. L. Harris in the early 90s. Harris often wrote of the “double lives” of Black LGBT men.
   • Some think you can identify a DL person by their appearance or behavior, but this is a misconception.
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   The term was brought into the mainstream by the author J.L. King. In 2004, King published the book On the Down Low, in which he described his own life as a DL bisexual man. King was then invited to speak on The Oprah Winfrey Show about his experience, which introduced thousands of viewers to the term, boosting its usage.

   • In 2005, the author Keith Boykin wrote the book Beyond the Down Low, in which he takes issue with and attempts to rectify parts of King’s book which Boykin found misrepresentative or distasteful.
   • Specifically, Boykin took issue with claims that DL men are responsible for increased rates of HIV and AIDS, which isn’t supported by research or evidence.
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Section 3 of 5:

Related Terms

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1. 
   1
   Discreet This refers to someone who’d rather keep their activities, gender identity, or sexual orientation private or secret.
2. 
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   Closeted This describes someone who hasn’t yet announced their gender identity or sexual orientation, preferring to keep it private.
3. 
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   Passing This term describes an LGBT person who might otherwise be assumed to be straight, cis-gendered, or otherwise a member of the dominant demographic. More casually, it means to conceal one’s identity, or “to pass.”
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Section 4 of 5:

Other Possible Meanings

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1. 
   1
   Download “DL” may simply refer to something you download from the internet, or the act of downloading something. In addition, “dl speed” refers to the rate at which something is downloaded, which depends on the speed of your internet.
2. 
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   Data language A data language, or a data definition language, is a computer programming language. It’s used to alter databases and their components.
3. 
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   Department of Labor This is an agency of the U.S. government responsible for overseeing issues that involve worker, wages, and other areas that relate to jobs and careers.
4. 
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   Divisive leader This is a term used in politics and business to describe a person in charge who tends to split or cause conflict within a team or organization.
5. 
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   Decilitre A unit of measurement that amounts to 1/10 of a liter.
6. 
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   Dimensionless quantity In many fields of science or math, this is a quantity that doesn’t have a corresponding physical unit. For example, we measure length in things like inches or centimeters. But if you want to measure something more advanced, like certain mathematical ratios used in physics, you’ll need a DL to do so.
7. 
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   Distance learning A term that describes online classes, often taken over Zoom or with the help of other learning software.
8. 
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   Defensive lineman Also called a “defensive end,” or “defensive tackle,” this is a football player positioned closest to the ball while on the defending team.
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Section 5 of 5:

More Slang Acronyms to Know

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1. Stay on top of new texting slang with these common acronyms. Learn these popular slang terms to stay in the know and keep your texts looking like English instead of gibberish:

   • ISK: A typo for IDK (“I don’t know”) or “I should know”
   • IDM: “I don’t mind”
   • MCM: “Man crush Monday”
   • WCW: “Woman crush Wednesday”
   • MBN: “Must be nice”
   • FFF: “Follow for follow”
   • PMO: “Put me on” (introduce to someone or something)
   • OOMF: “One of my followers” or “one of my friends”
   • OMW’’: “On my way”

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