What Does OPP Mean? Opps as Rivals, Where the Slang Comes From and What Parents Should Know

Opp is short and catchy, which is why it's travelled from rap lyrics into school corridors and comment sections. Most of the time you'll see it used jokingly about a rival or an ex. But its roots are in real conflict, and that's worth knowing whether you're a curious adult, a parent or a brand wondering if it's safe to use.

Opp as opposition: enemies and rivals

Dictionary.com notes that OPP isn't an acronym in this sense, but it's commonly used to stand for opposition or enemy. Wiktionary defines the noun opp, plural opps, as an opponent, an enemy or the opposition, and labels it slang that started in criminal slang. Its examples come from novels and song lyrics about street conflict.

Today it's most often written in lower case, as opp or opps, rather than as OPP.

It works as a noun, so people say someone is an opp, or talk about the opps as a group. You'll also hear phrases built around it, like saying a place is full of opps or that someone is acting like an opp, meaning they're behaving like a rival rather than a friend.

Drill lyrics and how opps spread

Wikipedia's article on drill music describes it as a hip-hop subgenre that began in Chicago in the early 2010s, and says the term opp or opps, short for opposition, is frequently used in drill lyrics to refer to enemy gang members and rivals. It also traces UK drill to South London from 2013 onwards. Dictionary.com's own examples include a 2012 interview on Vice where a Chicago rapper was asked about calling people opps on Twitter.

That background matters. In its original setting, opp isn't a playful word. It's about real rivalries, some of which have ended in violence.

Wikipedia notes that drill lyricism is known for its confrontational nature, and that drill artists in Chicago and later London have used their songs to taunt rivals. That's the setting the word comes from, and it's why the same word can feel harmless in a school chat and serious in other contexts.

From street slang to group chats: the softer opp

Wiktionary records a broader sense: by extension, any person you're on unfriendly terms with. That's the version most people meet online. Teens and young adults use it with a grin about a rival school's team, a friend who beat them at a game, a sibling who ate the last slice or an ex. The tone is mock serious, and nobody's in danger.

These are made-up messages to show the casual use:

• "My little brother took the last cookie, he's an opp now"
• "Don't invite her, she's been an opp since Year 9"
• "The other team's fans are opps for one night only"

The 1991 OPP: Naughty by Nature

Before opp meant rival, OPP was an acronym. Dictionary.com says it refers to sexual infidelity, standing for an explicit phrase about other people's partners, and that it's the title and topic of a 1991 song by the rap group Naughty by Nature. If an older friend laughs when they see OPP, that's probably why. It's a completely separate meaning, and you'll rarely see it used in a modern chat.

Opposite and opportunity: dictionary shorthand

Wiktionary lists two plain abbreviations as well. Opp can be short for opposite, often written opp. with a full stop, and for opportunity, as in job opps. You'll see these in notes, maps, timetables and careers posts, and there's nothing slangy about them.

Wiktionary's example of the opportunity sense uses job opps, and it's common in recruitment posts and newsletters. If a careers page lists "new opps this week", it's talking about vacancies, not enemies.

Which OPP? Reading the context

Where you see it	Probable meaning	Clue
A joke in a group chat	A rival, said playfully	Emojis, laughing and low stakes
Song lyrics or rap videos	An enemy or rival group	References to conflict or territory
A 90s music discussion	The 1991 Naughty by Nature song	Old school hip-hop talk
A careers or recruiting post	Opportunity	Jobs, roles or applications
Directions or a map	Opposite	Streets, buildings or stops

A note for parents who see opps in a teen's feed

If you spot opp in your child's messages, try not to panic. Most of the time it's the softer, jokey use, and they're borrowing a word they've heard in music, the same way they'd say someone is sus or call something cap. A calm question like "who's the opp?" will usually get an eye roll and a story about a football match.

It's worth a closer look if the messages name real people, mention where someone lives or will be, include threats or talk about weapons. In that case, talk to your child, keep a record and use the platform's reporting tools. If anyone seems to be in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services.

Why brands should leave opp alone

My advice for businesses is to skip it. Calling a competitor "the opps" might sound edgy in a caption, but the word's roots are in gang rivalry and violence, and using it for marketing can look careless or worse. It also needs explaining to a big part of your audience, which defeats the point.

It's fine to know what it means so you can read comments and moderate replies. When you're writing, "our rivals" or "the other team" does the job without the baggage.

Frequently asked questions

What does opp mean in slang?

In slang, an opp is an opponent, enemy or rival. Wiktionary says it started in criminal slang and now covers anyone you're on bad terms with.

Where does the word opp come from?

It's short for opposition. Wikipedia notes it's used heavily in drill lyrics, a hip-hop style that began in Chicago in the early 2010s.

What did OPP mean in the 1991 song?

Dictionary.com says the Naughty by Nature song used OPP as an acronym about sexual infidelity, a different meaning from the modern slang.

Is it bad if my child uses the word opp?

Usually not, as most use is jokey. It's worth a calm chat if messages name real people, include threats or mention weapons.

Can opp mean opportunity?

Yes. Wiktionary lists opp as an abbreviation of opportunity, as in job opps, and of opposite.