boy
/bɔːə/
Primarily describes a male human in the stage of childhood or adolescence. It carries an inherent sense of youth, innocence, or immaturity compared to 'man'. In social contexts among adult males, it shifts to a term of camaraderie and brotherhood ('the boys'). In this usage, it evokes a feeling of nostalgic friendship and shared masculine bonding, regardless of the actual age of the participants. When used to describe a subordinate or servant, the word takes on a heavy historical weight. In these contexts, it is often perceived as belittling, patronizing, or explicitly racist, as it strips the adult male of his maturity and status.
💬Casual Conversation
Victoria, my inner boy just wants to play with the company's seed funding.
Cut it out. We are bleeding cash and need a real strategy.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
school boy
Noun collocation: a male child attending school
The school boy carried a heavy backpack to class.
country boy
Noun collocation: a male child or youth from a rural area
He grew up as a country boy, spending his days in the fields.
golden boy
Noun collocation: a male person who is exceptionally successful or favored
The young athlete was the golden boy of the local sports club.
be a boy
Verb collocation: to behave in a childish or immature manner
Stop acting like a child and don't be a boy about this situation.
bring up a boy
Verb collocation: to raise a male child
It takes a village to bring up a boy with strong values.