Droll describes a kind of humor that's dry, understated, and quietly amusing. Someone with a droll sense of humor makes clever observations with a straight face, letting you discover the funny part yourself through subtle wit and deadpan delivery.

Picture a friend who watches the class hamster escape for the third time and says calmly, “I see Mr. Whiskers is practicing for the Olympics again.” That deadpan delivery, that subtle wit, that's droll humor. It sneaks up on you rather than hitting you over the head.

A droll comment often contains irony or gentle mockery. When your dad looks at the overflowing garage and remarks, “Well, we certainly have plenty of space in here,” his droll observation points out the absurdity without any dramatic fuss. Writers like Roald Dahl and E.B. White often used droll humor in their stories, with narrators who made wonderfully understated comments about outrageous situations.

What makes someone droll is the how as much as the what: that peculiar combination of seriousness and sly amusement that makes you smile before you even realize why.