boyfriend

noun

boy·​friend ˈbȯi-ˌfrend 

1

: a frequent or regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

2

usually boy friend dated : a friend who is a boy

often, specifically : a male friend from childhood

… was a boy friend of [Abraham] Lincoln in Kentucky …

—Joseph Medill, quoted in McClure's Magazine

Synonyms of boyfriend

• beau
• boy
• husband

Examples of boyfriend in a Sentence

My boyfriend and I have only been dating for a couple of months.

her boyfriend always brings her flowers for Valentine's Day

Recent Examples on the Web

One senses that this line is for the reader, not the ex-boyfriend, who has disappeared for some 200 pages. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

An argument over whether the Marshals or the FBI get to take charge of a murder investigation ends only when Clare promises to bring her new boyfriend home for dinner. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Her lawyer, Enza Rando, who helped her testify against her father and boyfriend in 2009, told CNN the state was also to blame for not providing enough protection and support for those who cross crime gangs. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

When his boyfriend disappears during a techno rave, Miguel spirals into grief and an increasingly fractured reality, seeking connection among lovers, strangers and his mother’s partner. — Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for boyfriend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend
• descend

Kids Definition

boyfriend

noun

boy·​friend ˈbȯi-ˌfrend 

1

: a male friend

2

: a frequent or regular male companion in a romantic relationship