Synonyms

playboy

American

[pley-boi] / ˈpleɪˌbɔɪ /

noun

a man who pursues a life of pleasure without responsibility or attachments, especially one who is of comfortable means.

playboy British

/ ˈpleɪˌbɔɪ /

noun

a man, esp one of private means, who devotes himself to the pleasures of nightclubs, expensive holiday resorts, female company, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

playboys

plural

Etymology

Origin of playboy

First recorded in 1620–30; play + boy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As for her own mindset, Wilkinson has moved on from her Playboy days and is committed to her work in real estate so that others will do the same.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Ratner stepped away from work including a biopic about Playboy founder Hugh Hefner he was producing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Thompson was a renowned writer and journalist who wrote for dozens of outlets including Rolling Stone, Playboy, and ESPN.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2025

Brian Karem is the former senior White House correspondent for Playboy.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2025

I mean that could have been really nice, only the goon that played the Playboy spoiled any fun it might have been.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023