boyish

American  

[boi-ish] / ˈbɔɪ ɪʃ /

adjective

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

   a boyish grin.

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boyish British  

/ ˈbɔɪɪʃ /

adjective

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

   a boyish smile

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of boyish

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

Explanation

If you're boyish, you resemble or act like a young boy. Your uncle's boyish features might keep him charming and attractive even as he grows older. When you describe someone as having boyish charm, it means that person — often an adult man — has kept some youth or sweetness as he's matured. A boyish smile might be full of humor and mischief. The earliest meaning of boyish, in the 1540s, was simply "pertaining to boys," and it grew to mean "childishly silly," before gaining its current meaning.

Example Sentences

Happily, Mr. Hamilton, who retains his boyish handsomeness, infuses this recollected ardor with convincing feeling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

For some reason, despite their boyish features they have thick beards.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

Models Bella Hadid and Loli Bahia have also sported them with boyish style, adopting a long-standing tradition of wearing the necktie as a subversive projection of women's equal rights.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

“That was just stunning to me,” said the folksy Collinsworth, still lanky and boyish at 66.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Tall and rather handsome, attractive to women, somewhat boyish, a clean and charming person.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara