MLM

What Does MLM Mean?

mlm is an emoticon for "flipping the bird" (i.e., giving someone the middle-finger gesture). Note that mlm only works as an emoticon when typed with lowercase letters.

MLM is also an abbreviation used with the meanings "Multi-Level Marketing," "Man Loves Men," and "Muslim Lives Matter." Here is more information about each of these definitions of MLM, together with examples of use.

Middle Finger (Emoticon)

When typed in lowercase (i.e., as "mlm"), the abbreviation MLM is an emoticon, which represents the offensive gesture of raising the middle finger and "flipping the bird." For example:

• Sam: Have you two split up for good this time?
• Jo: I guess so. When I suggested we go for coffee, she sent me mlm.

It is believed that the raising of the middle finger has been used as an insult since at least the 5th Century BCE. The earliest recorded mention is in the Greek play "The Clouds," written by Aristophanes, in 423 BCE.

Video Summarizing MLM

Here's a short video explaining how to use MLM:

Multi-Level Marketing

As an abbreviation, MLM is most widely used with the meaning "Multi-Level Marketing." In this context, MLM refers to a form of selling in which the company requires its distributors to recruit their own sub-distributors. Each distributor is compensated for the sales they make and also gets a percentage of the revenue generated by the sub-distributors that they recruit. For example:

• Ali: Dave has offered me a business opportunity that seems brilliant. I'm gonna be rich!
• Rick: It's an MLM scam. They don't work.

This type of business is often referred to as "Pyramid Selling" and is illegal in many countries.

Man Loves Men

MLM is used in dating circles with the meaning "Man Loves Men" (or "Man Loving Men" or "Man Loving Man"), to refer to men and male-aligned non-binary people who are attracted to men or male-aligned non-binary people. (See also WLW ("Woman Loves Women."))

Muslim Lives Matter

In response to the popularity of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement, MLM is now also used with the meaning "Muslim Lives Matter," as a way of drawing attention to the plight of Muslims throughout the world. (Especially to the genocide of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and the treatment of the Uighur Muslims in China.)

Example of MLM Used in a Text