Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Boy Scout

noun

Definition of Boy Scout

1 :a member of any of various national scouting programs (such as the Boy Scouts of America) for boys usually 11 to 17 years of age
2 :a person whose values or actions are characteristic of a Boy Scout

See Boy Scout defined for English-language learners

See Boy Scout defined for kids

Read the Latest from M-W

alt-59c2b2e5e6d34
Trending: Graham: Health Care Bill Is 'Federalism'
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
alt-59c17b8172892
'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

First Known Use of boy scout

1908

BOY SCOUT Defined for English Language Learners

Boy Scout

noun

Definition of Boy Scout for English Language Learners

  • : a member of an organization for boys ages 11 to 17

BOY SCOUT Defined for Kids

Boy Scout

noun

Definition of Boy Scout for Students

:a member of a scouting program (as the Boy Scouts of America)

Learn More about boy scout

  1. See words that rhyme with Boy Scout

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up Boy Scout? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

holus-bolus

play

all at once

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

  2. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  3. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

  4. allegory No spoilers!

  5. hurricane 'A tropical cyclone'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Boy Scout

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image536372841
Silent Letters

When each letter can be seen but not heard

alt-59c17b8172892
'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Its origins are surprisingly murky.

alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Nobody is immune to this question.

alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
name-that-color-logo
Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game