gameboy

IPA/ˈɡeɪm.bɔɪ/
KK[ɡˈembˌɔɪ]IPA/ˈɡeɪm.bɔɪ/

gameboy — noun

  • gameboysingular
  • gameboysplural

1. a portable electronic device made by Nintendo that uses plastic cartridges conta

1.nounB1
Definition

a portable electronic device made by Nintendo that uses plastic cartridges containing video games, with a small screen and control buttons, designed to be played while travelling or away from home

Example

Aiko played Pokémon on her Game Boy during the long train ride.

portable use: playing while travelling

Ravi dropped his Game Boy on the stairs, but the sturdy device still worked perfectly.

build quality: famously durable design

Common collocations
  • play on a Game Boy
  • buy a Game Boy
  • Game Boy cartridge
  • Game Boy game
  • original Game Boy
  • old Game Boy
Synonyms
  • handheld console

    generic term for any portable gaming device; Game Boy is the most famous specific example

  • portable gaming system

    more formal; describes the category rather than the specific Nintendo brand

Usage Note

Game Boy is a trademarked brand name and is usually capitalised as two words (Game Boy). The informal spelling "gameboy" is sometimes seen online or in casual writing.

Common Mistakes

He bought a gameboy, meaning any handheld console.
He bought a Game Boy, which is a specific Nintendo product.
Game Boy is a trademarked brand, not a general term for all handheld gaming devices.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

"Game Boy" refers specifically to Nintendo's 1989 handheld device and its direct successors, while "handheld console" describes the entire category of portable gaming devices from any manufacturer. "Portable gaming system" is a broader, more formal term that includes modern touchscreen devices and dedicated gaming handhelds alike. "Game Boy Advance" is a later model within the same product line — a subset, not a synonym. For everyday conversation, "Game Boy" remains the iconic name that most English speakers recognise, even when discussing newer handhelds, much like "Xerox" for photocopiers or "Kleenex" for tissues.

handheld consoleportable gaming systemGame Boy Advance

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Game Boy cartridge
  • Game Boy screen
  • Game Boy game
  • Game Boy model

Phrases

  • play on a Game Boy
  • buy a Game Boy
  • trade Game Boy cartridges

Prepositions

  • on a Game Boy
  • with a Game Boy

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

"Game Boy" is a trademarked brand name created by Nintendo for its first handheld gaming console, launched in 1989. The name combines "game" (from Old English "gamen," meaning joy, amusement, or fun) with "boy" (from Middle English "boie," meaning male child), chosen by Nintendo to suggest a young, energetic target audience who would play games on the go. The product's distinctive gray casing and green-tinted screen became cultural icons of 1990s portable entertainment.