boyish

American

[boi-ish] / ˈbɔɪ ɪʃ /

adjective

of or befitting a boy; engagingly youthful or innocent.

a boyish grin.

boyish British

/ ˈbɔɪɪʃ /

adjective

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

a boyish smile

"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

boyishly adverb
boyishness noun
unboyish adjective
unboyishly adverb
unboyishness noun

Etymology

Origin of boyish

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

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.

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

His voice blends boyish wonder with the wisdom of his 99 years - each in equal measure.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

Despite the consistent strengths of all the “Symposium” men, Takumi Miyake’s performance in a role that might classify as the most boyish demands singling out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

In the video, he seems small and almost boyish in his baseball shirt and “I CAN’T BREATHE” mask, his shoulders somewhat slumped, unheard over the fury of the crowd.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

The boyish king of the ring came over to my motel.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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