boyish

IPA/ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
KK[bˈɔɪɪʃ]IPA/ˈbɔɪɪʃ/

boyish — adjective

  • boyishpositive
  • more boyishcomparative
  • most boyishsuperlative

1. showing the fresh look, easy energy, or playful way of acting that people often

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing the fresh look, easy energy, or playful way of acting that people often connect with boys.

Example

Rina kept her hair short and had a boyish smile.

boyish + smile

The new jacket gave Mei a neat, boyish look.

boyish + look

Common collocations
  • boyish smile
  • boyish grin
  • boyish face
  • boyish charm
  • boyish enthusiasm
  • boyish look
Synonyms
  • youthful

    broader and simply suggests looking or feeling young

  • childlike

    stresses innocence or wonder, not specifically a male style

  • tomboyish

    used especially for girls or women seen as acting more like boys

  • laddish

    more informal and often less positive, suggesting rough or immature male behavior

Antonyms
  • feminine

    describes qualities traditionally linked with women or girls

  • mature

    focuses on adult seriousness rather than youthful playfulness

Grammar Patterns

boyish + smile/grin/face/charm

boyish + energy/excitement/look

Usage Note

Often used about a person's face, smile, haircut, charm, or manner. In positive contexts it suggests youth and natural ease; in negative contexts it can suggest slight immaturity.

Common Mistakes

The printer has a boyish design.
The actor has a boyish face.
This word usually describes a person's appearance or behavior, not machines or objects.

Word family

  • boy
    nounA1
  • boyishly
    adverbC1
  • boyishness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Boyish describes a face, smile, haircut, manner, or energy that reminds people of a boy. Youthful is broader and simply means looking or feeling young, without suggesting a male style. Childlike often praises innocence, wonder, or openness, though it can also suggest weak judgment. Tomboyish is used mainly for girls or women whose clothes or behavior are seen as more typical of boys. Laddish is more informal and often less positive, especially for noisy or immature male behavior. A short haircut and easy grin may be boyish, a sixty-year-old runner can still look youthful, and a simple question full of wonder may sound childlike instead.

youthful ↗childlike ↗tomboyish ↗laddish ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • look boyish
  • seem boyish

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

Boyish was formed in English from boy and the adjective ending -ish. The base word boy is recorded from Middle English, although its older origin is uncertain. The word has long been used for looks, manners, or behavior that people connect with boys.