Boy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈbȯi/

Meaning & Definition of Boy

Boy (noun)

  1. a male child from birth to adulthood
  2. a child whose gender identity is male
  3. son

Boy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a male person who has not yet reached adulthood

    "a giggling little boy ran by"

    similar: boychick, boyo (Irish), callant (chiefly Scottish), lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, youth
    related: adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, minor, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper, schoolboy, toddler, tot, tyke, mama's boy

  2. a male romantic companion

    "their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him"

    similar: beau, boyfriend, fellow, man, old man, swain
    related: admirer, crush, steady, gallant, suitor, wooer, beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, significant other, soulmate, spark, sparker, squeeze (slang), sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, valentine, fancy man, gigolo, date, escort, groom, husband, fiancé, intended

Related Entry: Big boy (noun)

Big boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for big boy, not for boy.

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "when she became the network's White House correspondent, she knew that she was now playing with the big boys"

    similar: big, big cheese, big gun, big leaguer, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

Related Entry: Po'boy (noun)

Po'boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for po'boy, not for boy.

  1. a large sandwich on a long split roll

    "ordered a fried catfish po'boy"

    similar: Cuban sandwich, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian sandwich, sub, submarine, torpedo

Related Entry: Pretty boy (noun)

Pretty boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for pretty boy, not for boy.

  1. a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance

    "a downtown dance club with lots of pretty boys in attendance"

    similar: beau, Beau Brummell, buck, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni
    related: coxcomb, fancy Dan, popinjay, blade, cavalier, dasher, clotheshorse, exquisite, swell
    near: slob, sloven

  2. a physically attractive man

    "as a musical performer, he has yet to prove that he's more than just another pretty boy"

    similar: beefcake, hunk, stud, superstud
    related: babe (slang), dish, doll, dreamboat (slang), eye candy, eyeful, fox, knockout, stunner, lady-killer, sheik, womanizer
    near: dog, grotesquerie, monster, nerd

Related Entry: Whipping boy (noun)

Whipping boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for whipping boy, not for boy.

  1. a person or thing taking the blame for others

    "used the government's economic policies as the whipping boy for every bad decision the company made"

    similar: fall guy, goat, scapegoat
    related: victim, butt, dupe, fool, laughingstock, mark, mockery, monkey, excuse

Related Entry: Delivery boy (noun)

Delivery boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for delivery boy, not for boy.

  1. as in carrier, courier

    similar: bearer, carrier, courier, go-between, liaison, messenger, deliverer, deliveryman

Related Entry: Mama's boy (noun)

Mama's boy is a different word from Boy. The synonyms below are for mama's boy, not for boy.

  1. as in boy, kid

    similar: boy, boychick, boyo (Irish), callant (chiefly Scottish), lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, youth, adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, minor, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper, toddler, tot, tyke, schoolboy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Boy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Boy:

Irish: boyo
Chiefly Scottish: callant
boychick, lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, youth, beau, boyfriend, fellow, man, old man, swain

Related Words for Boy

adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, minor, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper, schoolboy, toddler, tot, tyke, mama's boy, admirer, crush, steady, gallant, suitor, wooer, beloved

Word Forms of Boy

Inflections: boys

Derived words: boyhood (noun), boyish (adjective), boyishly (adverb), boyishness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Boy

Middle English

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Boy

Words & Phrases Containing Boy

boy band, boy howdy, Boy Scout, boy shorts, boy toy, boy wonder, altar boy, bad boy, ball boy

Frequently Asked Questions about Boy

What does "Boy" mean?

"Boy" means a male child from birth to adulthood. As a noun, it is defined as: a male child from birth to adulthood. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Boy"?

Other words for "Boy" include boychick, boyo, callant, lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling and shaver. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Boy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Boy"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Boy". Common alternatives include boychick, boyo, callant, lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny and stripling.

How do you use "Boy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Boy" in a sentence: "a giggling little boy ran by"; "their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him".

Is "Boy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Boy" is a noun.

Is "Boy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Boy" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Boy"?

"Boy" is pronounced /ˈbȯi/.

What is the origin of the word "Boy"?

"Boy" comes from Middle English. First known use: 14th century.