choirboy

noun

choir·​boy ˈkwī(-ə)r-ˌbȯi How to pronounce choirboy (audio)
1
: a boy member of a choir
2
: an innocent or virtuous man : altar boy sense 2
They're not thugs, but they're not choirboys either …Phil Taylor

Examples of choirboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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By gelding a choirboy, the Church would suspend his gossamer vocal cords so that a child’s song could live on in a man’s throat, backed, crucially, by a man’s powerful lungs. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 Casada had no criminal history but former lawmaker no 'choirboy,' judge says In determining Casada's sentence, Richardson said there were some factors in the case that weighed in his favor like his advanced age and lack of a criminal history. Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025 The facility was also home to a grammar school for orphans, choirboys and boys who lived on the hospital’s land. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 The choir itself was all male, but with a diverse age range: choirboys, men in their late twenties, others well into middle age. Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for choirboy

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of choirboy was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Choirboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choirboy. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

choirboy

noun
choir·​boy ˈkwī(-ə)r-ˌbȯi How to pronounce choirboy (audio)
: a boy member of a church choir

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