tomboy

American  

[tom-boi] / ˈtɒmˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. an energetic, sometimes boisterous girl whose behavior and pursuits, especially in games and sports, are considered more typical of boys than of girls.

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tomboy British  

/ ˈtɒmˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. a girl who acts or dresses in a boyish way, liking rough outdoor activities

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Other Word Forms

• tomboyish
  adjective
• tomboyishly
  adverb
• tomboyishness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tomboy

First recorded in 1545–55; Tom + boy

Explanation

A girl who dresses or acts in a stereotypically boyish way is often called a tomboy. Some famous literary tomboys include Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Jo from "Little Women." The word tomboy first appeared some time in the 1500s, meaning "wild, romping girl who acts like a boy." In nineteenth century America, being a tomboy was seen by many as extremely healthy for girls who were otherwise not encouraged to exercise outdoors. Wearing less constrictive clothes and actually playing gave tomboys experiences similar to those of boys — at least before they were expected to grow up and be "feminine."

Example Sentences

Da Brat said she had been fortunate to have the producer Jermaine Dupri as a mentor who never tried to change her tomboy image during the height of her career.

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2024

So, I always considered myself a tomboy, but I still like to dress up and be sparkly with rhinestones and glitter and fringe and all that kind of stuff.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2023

Lister, a precocious tomboy who seemingly knows something about everything, and Raine, a half-Indian heiress born out of wedlock, were fellow outcasts who found each other at the Manor School in 1805.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2023

He felt like saying aloud what was going on would lock his whole family into a future—solidify that, no, his kid was not just a tomboy, and this was not just a phase.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2023

The idea of a concert career for me appealed to his vision of himself as a poet and of me as more than a spunky tomboy.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago