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Definition of attaboy

attaboy

/ˈæt.əˌbɔɪ/
at · ta · boy
Plural:attaboys
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attaboy Lexical Profile

attaboy Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

North American Used to express encouragement, approval, or admiration, especially toward a boy, a man, or a male animal.

Example

"Attaboy! You hit that ball right out of the park!"

Synonyms
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• noun

1

North American An expression or gesture of praise, approval, or encouragement for a job well done.

Example

"The project manager gave the engineering team a well-deserved attaboy after the successful product launch."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

atrociousness
atrocity
atrophy
attaboy
attach
attachable
attache

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century in American English as a casual phonetic contraction of the phrase "that's the boy," originally popularized in sports like baseball to cheer on players.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Attaboy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/attaboy
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