boy
/bɔi/
Definition
- Noun:
- A male child or young man: A boy is a male human being from birth through childhood and adolescence.
- A son: A male offspring in relation to his parents.
- A male servant or attendant (dated/offensive): Historically used to refer to a male servant, often in a demeaning context.
- A man, especially when referred to in a friendly or familiar way: Used informally among men to refer to themselves or their peers.
- (Ethnic slur) An offensive and disparaging term for a Black man: A deeply offensive term rooted in racism and historical oppression.
Usage Examples
- Referring to a male child:
- The little boy was playing in the park.
- They have two children: a girl and a boy.
- Referring to a son:
- Their eldest boy is studying medicine.
- He's a proud father of three boys.
- Informal reference to a man (often plural):
- He's going out for a drink with the boys.
- That's my boy! He finally got the promotion!
- Historical/Offensive use (servant):
- In the 19th century, a wealthy household might have employed a boot boy. (This usage is now considered archaic and offensive.)
Advanced Usage
- "Big boy": Can refer to a large or important person/thing, or be used condescendingly.
- Time to put on your big boy pants and deal with the problem. (Figurative, meaning to act maturely.)
- "Boy" as an interjection: Used to express excitement, surprise, or emphasis.
- Boy, that was a close call!
- Oh boy, here we go again.
Variants and Related Words
- Boyhood (n): The state or period of being a boy.
- He spent his boyhood in the countryside.
- Boyish (adj): Characteristic of or resembling a boy, often in a pleasant way (e.g., enthusiasm, appearance).
- She has a boyish grin.
- Boyfriend (n): A regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship.
- She introduced her boyfriend to her parents.
Synonyms
- Lad: A boy or young man (common in British English).
- Youth: A young male person.
- Son: A male child in relation to his parents.
- Kid (informal): A child or young person.
Important Note on Offensive Usage
The use of "boy" to address a Black man or any grown man in a position of service is a severe racial and social slur. It is used to demean, infantilize, and assert dominance. This usage is unacceptable and should never be employed.
Noun
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(ethnic slur) offensive and disparaging term for Black man
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get out of my way, boy
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a male human offspring
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their son became a famous judge
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his boy is taller than he is
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a friendly informal reference to a grown man
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he likes to play golf with the boys
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a youthful male person
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the baby was a boy
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she made the boy brush his teeth every night
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most soldiers are only boys in uniform
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