guy

¹ American  

[gahy] / gaɪ /

noun

1. Informal. a man or boy; fellow.

   He's a nice guy.

2. Informal. none guys people, regardless of their gender.

   Could one of you guys help me with this?

3. Chiefly British Slang. a grotesquely dressed person.

4. British. Often Guy a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawkes that is paraded through the streets and burned on Guy Fawkes Day.

---

verb (used with object)

guyed, guying

1. to jeer at or make fun of; ridicule.

idioms

1. give the guy to, to escape from (someone); give (someone) the slip.

guy ² American  

[gahy] / gaɪ /

noun

1. a rope, cable, or appliance used to guide and steady an object being hoisted or lowered, or to secure anything likely to shift its position.

---

verb (used with object)

guyed, guying

1. to guide, steady, or secure with a guy or guys.

Guy ³ American  

[gahy, gee] / gaɪ, gi /

noun

1. a male given name: from a Germanic word meaning “woods.”

---

guy ¹ British  

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. informal a man or youth

2. a crude effigy of Guy Fawkes, usually made of old clothes stuffed with straw or rags, that is burnt on top of a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Day

3. a person in shabby or ludicrously odd clothes

4. informal (plural) persons of either sex

---

verb

1. (tr) to make fun of; ridicule

guy ² British  

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. a rope, chain, wire, etc, for anchoring an object, such as a radio mast, in position or for steadying or guiding it while being hoisted or lowered

---

verb

1. (tr) to anchor, steady, or guide with a guy or guys

Guy ³ British  

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. Buddy, real name George Guy. born 1936, US blues singer and guitarist

---

GUY ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Guyana (international car registration)

---

Etymology

Origin of guy¹

First recorded in 1800–10; after Guy Fawkes

Origin of guy²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gi(e), from Old French guie “a guide,” derivative of guier to guide

Example Sentences

"The people who make astronauts fought it and said 'This guy will last about six weeks,'" Dwight recalls.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

“If I’m around a guy and the guy is just not looking at me, I could be like, ‘Oh, men suck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

"The guy has zero weakness - that's why he has won so much," said 2013 Wimbledon women's champion Marion Bartoli, analysing the final for Sky Sports.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“He’s a guy that I have familiarity with, history and a lot of reverence for because of the gratitude from our experiences together.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

A guy sporting a 2S T-shirt with boot-cut jeans rings a cowbell.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• dude
• fellow
• lad
• man