plural lads
informal
1
chiefly British
: a boy or young man
a charming young lad
Life was hard when I was a lad.
Well, lad, I hope you won't make the same mistake again!
He's a good lad at heart.
2
British
: a man with whom you are friendly : fellow chap
They can't treat us like that, can they, lads?!
He was out drinking with the lads [=(US) the guys, the boys] at the pub.
Note: In British English, a man who is a bit of a lad does things that are considered a bit wild, such as getting drunk and having sexual relations with many women.
Cite this Entry
“Lad.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/lad. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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