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Definition of boyfriend

boyfriend

/ˈbɔɪfrɛnd/
boy · friend
Plural:boyfriends
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boyfriend Lexical Profile

boyfriend Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A regular male companion with whom a person has a romantic or sexual relationship.

Example

"She invited her boyfriend to join the family for their annual holiday dinner."

2

A male friend or platonic acquaintance (now less common and often written as two words to avoid ambiguity).

Example

"In the early twentieth century, the term was frequently used simply to describe a platonic male companion."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for boyfriend
Antonyms
View all antonyms for boyfriend

Word Nuance & Usage

When written as a single word ('boyfriend'), it almost exclusively refers to a romantic partner; when written as two separate words ('boy friend'), it can be used to specify a platonic male friend.

• Nearby Words

boyband
boycott
boycotter
boyfriend
boyhood
boyish
boyishly

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 20th century as a compound of 'boy' and 'friend', originally attested around 1909 to denote a regular male romantic companion.

Cite this Entry

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