boyish

[boi-ish]

adjective

1. of or befitting a boy; engagingly youthful or innocent.

   a boyish grin.

boyish

/ ˈbɔɪɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or like a boy in looks, behaviour, or character, esp when regarded as attractive or endearing

   a boyish smile

Other Word Forms

• boyishly adverb
• boyishness noun
• unboyish adjective
• unboyishly adverb
• unboyishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of boyish¹

First recorded in 1540–50; boy + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

She was also juggling men, among them the boyish Sam Chapman, whose proposal she’d tentatively accepted, to a wealthy 64-year-old who showered her with pricey presents, such as an automobile.

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We cast Harry Lawtey, who plays him with a boyish, broken quality, wide eyes looking for home.

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A video, shared widely online, shows police arresting a young man with a boyish face and hair over his shoulders, wearing blue jeans and a green T-shirt.

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Lorenzo Sanchez, who pitched Rolling Thunder to a 14-2 win over the Warriors, wore a boyish smile and looked nothing like 83.

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Though Malkmus has maintained much of his lean, boyish West Coast cool, even edging toward late middle age, the quintet looks older and wiser, no longer burdened by their uncomfortable relationship with success.

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