altar boy

noun

1

: a boy who assists the celebrant in a liturgical service

2

chiefly US : a morally pure and virtuous person

No one expects … the trendsetter and party animal to become an altar boy.

—Johnnie L. Roberts

—typically used in negative constructions to describe a man whose behavior is not entirely admirable or blameless

A long time ago she married a man who turns out, by his own admission, to be somewhat dishonest—not a killer, not a dope peddler, but no altar boy, either.

—Richard Cohen

Examples of altar boy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The altar boy and altar girl pulled off their robes while Obi, the priest, and Lyons slowly made their way outside. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Peter Draganowski, a 15-year-old incoming sophomore at Saint Agnes’ school, has been an altar boy at both English and Latin services for years. — ABC News, 3 July 2026

Mailo has been an altar boy at Light of the World Catholic Church since the third grade. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 June 2026

While the other candidates pressed their palms against the podiums, ready to pounce on every question, Becerra clasped his hands like an altar boy. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for altar boy

• corduroy
• fauntleroy
• iroquois
• ahoy
• alloy
• annoy
• carboy
• convoy
• cowboy
• decoy
• deploy
• destroy

Kids Definition

altar boy

noun

: a boy who assists the priest in a church service