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adjective

boyish

BOYIHSH

Boyish (adjective) means resembling or characteristic of a boy in appearance or manner. Example: “He still has a boyish grin, even in his forties.”

adjective
1
Resembling or characteristic of a boy in appearance or manner.
"He still has a boyish grin, even in his forties."
"She wore her hair in a boyish crop."

How to use boyish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLooking or acting like a young boy, in a youthful or playful way.

Common pairings
boyish charm boyish grin boyish enthusiasm

Word forms

more boyish comparative, most boyish superlative

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Test yourself on “boyish” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He still has a _____ grin, even in his forties.

Etymology

From "boy" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ish."

Frequently asked questions

What does “boyish” mean?

The word “boyish” means resembling or characteristic of a boy in appearance or manner. In plain terms, looking or acting like a young boy, in a youthful or playful way.

How do you pronounce “boyish”?

“Boyish” is pronounced BOYIHSH (/ˈbɔɪ.ɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “boyish” in a sentence?

Here is “boyish” used in a sentence: “He still has a boyish grin, even in his forties.”

What part of speech is “boyish”?

“Boyish” is an adjective.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial