trolley

noun

trol·​ley ˈträ-lē 

variants or less commonly trolly

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a streetcar powered electrically through a trolley

called also trolley car

b

: a device that carries electric current from an overhead wire to an electrically driven vehicle

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

3

chiefly British : a cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (such as food or books)

4

dialectal, England : a cart of any of various kinds

Examples of trolley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still in his yellow-and-blue climbing jacket, he can be seen in later video being wheeled on a trolley from the helipad at HAMS hospital in Kathmandu. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 5 June 2026

The trolley mechanism sits outside the shell, which means the interior stays flat, with thermoformed lining, two retaining straps, and a zippered compartment. —John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026

Its trolley barn at History Park in San Jose is also named after Diridon. —Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

Chincoteague also offers free trolley and shuttle services, and security guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of all visitors. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from troll entry 2

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing trolley

• off one's trolley
• trackless trolley

Rhymes for trolley

• colley
• collie
• dolly
• folly
• golly
• holly
• jolley
• jolly
• lolly
• mollie
• molly
• ollie

Kids Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē

plural trolleys also trollies

1

a

: a device for carrying current from a wire to an electrically driven vehicle

b

: a streetcar that runs on tracks and gets its electric power through a trolley

called also trolley car

2

: a wheeled carriage running on an overhead rail or track

Medical Definition

trolley

noun

trol·​ley

variants also trolly

ˈträl-ē 

plural trolleys also trollies

British

: gurney