tomboy
Americannoun
-
tomboys
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of tomboy
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."
Vocabulary lists containing tomboy
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.
See Examples For:
"I thought I was the tomboy, the only girl that played in the football team, then this little upstart popped up," Westbury tells BBC Sport.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
Zwick got his start on the ABC domestic drama “Family,” which starred Kristy McNichol as a tomboy named Buddy Lawrence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2024
She is the consummate cool girl: 33 years old, both a total hottie and a total tomboy, unable to do things like make a real meal or read a book.
From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 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
Mother claims I have the manners of a wild animal myself, as I am a tomboy, but I never fail to be respectful of my father’s garden.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Born 10 years earlier, we would have been called tomboys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
The sisters, who were "tomboys from the time we were little kids", were "constantly reminded we don't fit in," says Alisa.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2023
“So tomboys are in the middle?” one girl asked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2019
It was time for girls to go back to being tomboys, many adults felt.
From New York Times ● Aug. 14, 2019
Think of that, Barbara, and do not wonder that I know more about girls than tomboys.
From The Youngest Girl in the School by Evelyn Sharp
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
