Dl

MLB fans use DL as shorthand for the Disabled List, which is a list players are put on when they are injured and unable to play. Placing a player on the DL allows a team to remove that player from their roster and add a healthy player instead.

Only the MLB uses the DL acronym. In other sports leagues, like the NFL and NHL, teams instead place players on injured reserve (IR). While some old-school fans may still use the DL acronym, the MLB officially changed the Disabled List's name to the Injured List in 2019. Therefore, you may now see fans refer to the DL as the IL.

DL is another way to say something is on the "down low" or private. People often use it in the context of "keep it on the DL," which means keep it secret or just between us.

For example, if your friend doesn't want his mom to know he skipped school, he might message you, "Keep yesterday on the dl in front of my mom." While people may use DL for anything secretive, such as a confession of theft or cheating, they may use DL to hide their sexuality. For example, a closeted homosexual man may say he's "staying on the DL."

Origin of DL

The abbreviation DL originated in the late-1990s as a quicker way to communicate online that something should be secretive. In the late-1990s and early-2000s, "down low" was popular, especially in the rap community, so it made sense to abbreviate it as DL to save time and space when typing.

DL (also "dl") is shorthand for the original Disney theme park located in Anaheim, California. Fans and frequent visitors use "DL" as a quick, convenient way to discuss trips, park strategies, or favorite attractions without typing the full name, especially in texts, forums, and social media posts.

The abbreviation has been around for years, but it became especially common in the 2000s and 2010s as online Disney communities and planning groups grew. You will most often see DL used by Disney fans, annual passholders (now Magic Key holders), theme-park bloggers, and vacation planners who compare Disneyland to Walt Disney World.

If you are doing laundry away from your computer, you might message others that you are "DL." It may be confusing for some since other meanings are associated with the term, including "downloading" and "down low."

When online or texting, people may put in their status or an away message that they may not be able to quickly respond cause they are busy DL. For example, if you are messaging with a group of friends while leaving your computer every half hour or so to tend to the laundry, you might message, "Sorry for any delay, but I'm DL rn."