homeboy

American  

[hohm-boi] / ˈhoʊmˌbɔɪ /

noun

Slang.

• homeboys
  plural

1. a person from the same locality as oneself.

2. a close friend or fellow gang member.

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homeboy British  

/ ˈhəʊmˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. a close friend

2. a person from one's home town or neighbourhood

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Usage

What does homeboy mean? Homeboy is a slang term for a close male friend. It can refer to a boy or a man. The word homegirl is used in the same way to refer to a close female friend. Shortened, gender-neutral versions of these terms include homie and homey, which are perhaps even more commonly used. All of these terms can be used to refer to a friend, as in This is my homeboy Russel, or as a term of address for one, as in Hey, homeboy! These terms are all associated with urban and hip hop culture and are primarily used by members of African American and Latinx communities in the U. S. They commonly refer to a close friend who’s from the same neighborhood. In some cases, the words are used to refer to a fellow gang member. However, the terms have entered mainstream use and usually simply refer to a close friend. Homeboy is frequently used with a possessive pronoun, as in my homeboy. Example: I’m having a night out with just me and my homeboys.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• homegirl
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• homeboys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of homeboy

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; home + boy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

homeboy homeboys

If a friend put me in a situation that nearly destroyed my career, I’d stay as far away from homeboy as possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2024

“I remembered my homeboy that lived in the neighborhood. I had to go through some woods to his house with the album,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 7, 2023

“Looks like homeboy is doing a little too good,” Tolbert said.

From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2021

“It literally sounds like you’re watching the game, chillin’ with your homeboy from up the street.”

From Washington Post ● Sep. 18, 2020

I wasn't ready to quit on my homeboy yet, but he was pushing me, and pushing hard.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

But Black Twitter, combined with the people I followed from the bar, my homeboys from around the way I convinced to join, and Eastside-Westside Baltimore Twitta, made my experience complete.

From Salon ● May 6, 2022

“I just remember me and my homeboys getting in the car and going to down to Canal Street,” Mathieu said.

From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2022

One of his homeboys who was back from college called up.

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 4, 2019

The boy said none of his homeboys had been carrying weapons that winter day.

From New York Times ● Nov. 20, 2016

But once in a while he'd go over and visit some of his old homeboys who were home for Thanksgiving break or Christmas vacation.

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson