boyfriend

American  

[boi-frend] / ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd /

noun

1. a frequent or favorite male companion; beau.

2. a male friend.

3. a male lover.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or noting clothing and accessories for women that are inspired by men's fashions.

   roomy and comfortable boyfriend jeans;

   an oversize boyfriend watch.

boyfriend British  

/ ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd /

noun

1. a male friend with whom a person is romantically or sexually involved; sweetheart or lover

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Etymology

Origin of boyfriend

First recorded in 1895–1900; boy + friend

Example Sentences

Heathcliff might have been the most overtly unhinged boyfriend adolescent girls encountered in their assigned reading list, but he was far from the only one, even within the extended Brontë universe.

From Salon

More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austria's highest mountain, her boyfriend goes on trial on Thursday accused of gross negligent manslaughter.

From BBC

To not have a boyfriend until she went to college?

From Literature

Among their other sleepovers — from one night to four months — were two hotels, an Airbnb, a church parking lot, another campground, a townhome rental and three tiny guest houses — one at a co-worker’s boyfriend’s house.

From Los Angeles Times

She books one at least once a quarter, either alone or with her boyfriend.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beau
• companion
• friend
• partner
• suitor
• sweetheart
• young man