League of Legends Terminology Glossary
League of Legends terms and slang, from 1v1 and Gank to Smurf and Split Push, are explained in this glossary.
7 min read

In brief
AI summaryThe League of Legends glossary explains dozens of terms, from basics like AA and CS to slang like Fed and Toxic.
Terms like CDR have evolved in-game, with Cooldown Reduction now officially called Ability Haste.
Advanced concepts covered include Backdoor, Counter Jungle, Split Push, and Insec plays.
Contents5 sections
League of Legends Terminology
Like many games, League of Legends has terms used both in and out of the game. These terms simplify communication when the action gets intense. These words, which make communication between players easier, are mostly in English and apply across almost every game.

What Does LoL 1v1 Mean?
It means a duel or a challenge. It's a fight between two players. For example, trades that happen in mid lane or top lane can be given as examples of 1v1.
What Does LoL AA Mean?
Defined as a basic attack or auto attack. Every plain hit dealt is an example of the term AA.
What Does LoL Ace Mean?
Wiping out the entire enemy team is defined as an Ace. Players who play League of Legends in Turkish will be familiar with the term "Katliam" instead of Ace.
What Does LoL AFK Mean?
AFK is short for Away From Keyboard.
Words That Will Come In Handy While Playing League of Legends
What Does LoL Backdoor Mean?
It's making the game-ending play while the enemy team is focused elsewhere. This usually happens by sneaking through the jungle unseen and attacking the main tower. Or, teleporting onto a totem placed deep in enemy territory can be enough to pull off a Backdoor.
What Does LoL Blue Mean?
The Blue buff found in the jungle is called Blue. It helps restore mana and reduce cooldowns.
What Does LoL Buff Mean?
Both the Red and Blue buffs are called Buff. The boosts provided by both buffs make a real difference in the game.
What Does LoL Burst Mean?
It's when a single champion attacks by unleashing their full potential all at once. It means using every ability in their kit in rapid succession.
What Does LoL Carry Mean?
A champion who usually starts weaker than others but becomes stronger as the game goes on. The person who wins the game for their team is also called the Carry.
What Does LoL CC Mean?
Crowd control effects are called CC. It's also used interchangeably with Stun.
What Does LoL CD Mean?
It's the time you have to wait before you can use an ability or spell again after using it. In short, it's the cooldown.
League of Legends In-Game Abbreviations and Meanings
What Does LoL CDR Mean?
CDR, meaning Cooldown Reduction, has started being called Ability Haste with recent updates.
What Does LoL Come Back Mean?
It's when a team thought to be losing makes moves toward winning the game and takes the upper hand.
What Does LoL Counter Gank Mean?
Setting up a sudden ambush that shuts down the advantage the enemy gained from their attack is called a Counter Gank.
What Does LoL Counter Jungle Mean?
It's invading the enemy team's jungle to take their jungle monsters and other resources. This is how the enemy jungler gets set behind in the game.
What Does LoL Counter Pick Mean?
It's picking a stronger champion against the one the opposing player chose. For example: picking Fizz against someone who picked Veigar.
What Does LoL CS Mean?
It's the number of minions killed throughout the game.
League of Legends Terms and Words
What Does LoL DC Mean?
It's when a connection drops during the game.
What Does LoL Debuff Mean?
Any weakening effect that saps a player's power and puts them at a disadvantage is called a Debuff. Also known as DB.
What Does LoL Dive Mean?
Making an aggressive play on an enemy player who has retreated all the way under their tower in a pushed lane is called a Dive. It's risky, but it's bound to succeed with the right execution.
What Does LoL Dodge Mean?
It has two meanings. It's used either for breaking up a game's matchmaking, or for a move that causes the enemy champion's ability to miss. For example, if Nidalee throws her spear at you and you step back to avoid it, you've dodged the spear.
What Does LoL Elo Mean?
It's the name given to a mathematical rating system for a player's relative skill level. It's known as MMR in many games.
What Does LoL Elo Hell Mean?
It's when a player gets stuck at a rank that's hard to climb out of and quite frustrating.
What Does LoL Ez Mean?
A word used to describe the game as very easy. It's also used after landing successful trades. It serves to taunt the enemy team.
What Does LoL F Mean?
It's the name given to the Flash spell. It comes from the first letter of the word Flash.
What Does LoL FB Mean?
It's First Blood. It refers to the first kill scored in the game.
What Does LoL Fed Mean?
It refers to someone who has stacked up gold and levels excessively and is well ahead of the other players in the game.
What Does LoL Feed Mean?
It's feeding intentionally. It's a common and quite frustrating action seen often in low Elo.
What Does LoL FF Mean?
It means surrendering. It's when a team, believing they can't win the game, willingly accepts defeat.
What Does LoL Gank Mean?
It's junglers ambushing lanes to get kills.
What Does LoL GL Mean?
Used to wish someone good luck.
What Does LoL GJ Mean?
It means Good Job. It's said to praise a move that was well received.
What Does LoL Harass Mean?
It means constantly attacking the enemy player. It's an action done especially while last-hitting minions. Since the enemy is occupied, they can't easily fight back.
What Does LoL Insec Mean?
It's a move named after the person who invented it. It's done by getting behind the enemy player. It means knocking the enemy back into your own team.
What Does LoL Int Mean?
It's another term for feeding intentionally.
What Does LoL Invade Mean?
It's used for entering enemy territory, especially their jungle.
League of Legends Glossary of Terms
What Does LoL Kite Mean?
It's when ranged champions attack an enemy player while maintaining distance from them.
What Does LoL Lag Mean?
Ping or Lag refers to delay that occurs during the game. It's the reason for the delay experienced when a command is given.
What Does LoL Lane Swap Mean?
It's when allied players switch the lanes they're fighting in as part of a specific strategy. If top lane has gotten too far ahead, that player might move to bot lane and dominate the game there instead. This is called a Lane Swap.
What Does LoL Nerf Mean?
It refers to weakening a champion or item. It's announced through patch notes and can be significant enough to shift the game's balance.
What Does LoL OTP Mean?
It refers to people who only play a single champion. For example, an 800k Yasuo is an OTP.
What Does LoL Open Mid Mean?
When a team realizes they've lost the early game, they'll type "open mid" to let the enemy team end the game through mid lane. Once "open mid" is typed, the enemy team knows they won't run into any resistance.
What Does LoL Pink Mean?
It's the name for the Control Ward, also known as the Pink Ward. It provides vision.
What Does LoL Pot Mean?
It's the name given to the potion used to restore health.
What Does LoL Proxy Mean?
Last-hitting minions between both enemy towers is called Proxy. It's quite risky, but it makes it impossible for the enemy player to push the lane and farm.
What Does LoL Push Mean?
It's the act of increasing pressure to shove the lane toward the enemy player's side.
What Does LoL Red Mean?
It's the name given to the Red buff. It provides bonuses like health restoration and burn damage.
What Does LoL Smurf Mean?
It's when a highly ranked player plays in low Elo. It quickly becomes obvious that person is a Smurf.
What Does LoL Split Push Mean?
It's pushing a lane apart from the rest of the team. Champions built for split pushing can take down towers on their own very quickly.
What Does LoL TF Mean?
It's when both teams fight each other as a full team.
What Does LoL Toxic Mean?
It refers to a player profile that talks too much in the game and bothers other people. The only way to escape it is to mute them.
What Does LoL Troll Mean?
Someone whose actions cause harm to other players and the community. These actions can include sending abusive messages or intentionally feeding the enemy.
Frequently asked questions
Questions answered in this article
What Does LoL 1v1 Mean?
It means a duel or a challenge. It's a fight between two players. For example, trades that happen in mid lane or top lane can be given as examples of 1v1 .
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL AA Mean?
Defined as a basic attack or auto attack. Every plain hit dealt is an example of the term AA .
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Ace Mean?
Wiping out the entire enemy team is defined as an Ace . Players who play League of Legends in Turkish will be familiar with the term "Katliam" instead of Ace.
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Backdoor Mean?
It's making the game-ending play while the enemy team is focused elsewhere. This usually happens by sneaking through the jungle unseen and attacking the main tower. Or, teleporting onto a totem placed deep in enemy territory can be enough to pull off a Backdoor .
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Blue Mean?
The Blue buff found in the jungle is called Blue . It helps restore mana and reduce cooldowns.
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Buff Mean?
Both the Red and Blue buffs are called Buff . The boosts provided by both buffs make a real difference in the game.
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Burst Mean?
It's when a single champion attacks by unleashing their full potential all at once. It means using every ability in their kit in rapid succession.
Go to sectionWhat Does LoL Carry Mean?
A champion who usually starts weaker than others but becomes stronger as the game goes on. The person who wins the game for their team is also called the Carry .
Go to section

