boy
noun
ˈbȯi 
plural boys
often attributive
1
a(1)
: a male child from birth to adulthood
a ten-year-old boy
(2)
: a child whose gender identity is male
Author Kyle Lukoff told Newsweek, Call Me Max and other books in the series are about a young trans boy figuring out who he is, making new friends, and sharing about himself with his family and community.—
Samantha Lock
Samantha Lock b
: son
Even though it made them uncomfortable to have their boy talked about all over town, secretly, Nick's mom and dad were pleased.—Andrew Clements
Andrew Clements c
: an immature male
separate the men from the boys
a boy genius
d
: a male romantic partner : boyfriend, beau
2
a
: a man or boy native to a given place
a local boy
b
: man, person
the boys at the office
c
—used interjectionally to express intensity of feeling
Boy, what a game!
3
chiefly US slang : a close male friend
Now, the receiver is getting a second chance, thanks to old friend Tom Brady. "Tom is my boy," [Antonio] Brown said Wednesday during his introductory video press conference in Tampa.—Michael Hurley
Michael Hurley4
: a male domesticated animal and especially a pet
Leo is a 2-year-old pit bull mix. … He loves receiving attention, getting pets and being told he is a good boy.—The Denver Post
The Denver PostJean Greening greets the birds in the aviary with whistles, kissing noises, and the phrase, "Who's a pretty boy?"—Current Science
Current Science5
a
dated, offensive : a male servant or an enslaved man
b
disparaging + offensive —used to address a man of color and especially a Black man
Note: The deeply offensive use of the word boy to address an adult man of color has a strong association with sense 5a and is a term expressive of racist condescension.
boyhood
ˈbȯi-ˌhu̇d
noun boyish
ˈbȯi-ish
adjective boyishly adverb
boyishness noun
Synonyms
- boychick
- boychik
- boyo [Irish]
- callant [chiefly Scottish]
- lad
- laddie
- nipper
- shaveling
- shaver
- sonny
- stripling
- tad
- youth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
It's a boy! She gave birth to a baby boy this morning. a nine-year-old boy named David Okay, boys and girls, it's time to play a game. Is this your little boy? That's my boy! Good job, Son. a group of teenage boys My parents want me to meet a nice boy and get married. Don't be so hard on him. He's just a boy. a poor boy from the north Wait till the boys back home hear about this! See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5a
Phrases Containing boy
Kids Definition
boy
noun ˈbȯi
1
: a male child from birth to young manhood
2
: son sense 1a
boyhood
-ˌhu̇d
noun boyish
-ish
adjective boyishly adverb
boyishness noun
boys
noun
1
as in kids
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood a giggling little boy ran by Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- kids
- teenagers
- lads
- adolescents
- youths
- toddlers
- laddies
- nippers
- youngsters
- boyos
- striplings
- shavers
- sonnies
- boychiks
- juveniles
- tads
- kiddos
- shavelings
- kiddies
- callants
- boychicks
- minors
- moppets
- tweens
- younglings
- urchins
- schoolboys
- tykes
- whippersnappers
- gamins
- hobbledehoys
- guttersnipes
- tikes
- tots
- imps
- squirts
- mama's boys
2
as in boyfriends
a male romantic companion their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him Synonyms & Similar Words
- boyfriends
- husbands
- men
- beaux
- swains
- beaus
- sweeties
- fellows
- old men
- lovers
- sweethearts
- crushes
- admirers
- wooers
- valentines
- gallants
- soul mates
- favorites
- darlings
- suitors
- grooms
- dears
- flames
- sweets
- significant others
- gigolos
- escorts
- honeys
- sparkers
- sparks
- dates
- beloveds
- fancy men
- loves
- fiancés
- steadies
- sweetie pies
- squeezes
- intendeds