boy
- noun
- /bɔɪ/
- Slur
- The term 'boy' was historically used in a derogatory way to demean Black men during the era of segregation.
- Black boy
- African-American boy
- Black men and boys
Examples
-
Let's give this boy his money.
-
Think on your sins, boy.
-
After a while, I told the white woman, "Maybe I send my boy to school next day."
Academic text (2008) -
I may be many things, sir, but I'm not your boy.
-
Consequently, Black boys and young adults work hard to earn respect and protect it.
Academic text (2013) -
However, they did not find a significant relationship between Black boys' racial attitudes and those of their fathers.
Academic text (2004) -
During his earliest years, others viewed DeShawn as a boy who would make it out of the projects.
Academic text (2015) -
Many people still remember how the word 'boy' was used unfairly to belittle Black men in the past.
-
In conversations about racial issues, the use of the word 'boy' can evoke painful memories of oppression among Black communities.
Idioms
- Informal
A person who feels alone and confused, often singled out by others to fill a special role
Compounds
A worldwide group that teaches boys outdoor skills like camping and good citizenship
- Informal
A young man who delivers food and packages to homes by bicycle or motorbike
- Offensive
A person who depends too much on their mother and does not make their own decisions
A boy who belongs to a youth group that teaches outdoor skills and helps the community
- Slur
A white man often in the southern US who is friendly but supports his group and resists change
- Slur
A white man from the southern US who is friendly but often has unfair views and favors other men
A national United States organization that teaches young people character, citizenship, and leadership through scouting
- Literature
Men from the same schools who use connections to help each other get jobs and often keep others out
- Archaic
A young British man in the 1950s and 1960s who wore long jackets and narrow trousers and acted rebellious
- Informal
A person who is too innocent about how the world works and trusts others easily
- Archaic
A young man who does simple office tasks like running errands and delivering messages
- Slur
A white man from the southern US who is friendly, loyal to his group, and sometimes intolerant
- Archaic
A young man in 1950s Britain who wore clothes from the early 1900s and liked rock and roll
- Offensive
A man who has casual sex without wanting a relationship and often uses people
- Offensive
A person who depends too much on their mother and cannot make their own decisions
- Offensive
A man or boy who depends too much on his mother and cannot make decisions alone
- Archaic
A fashionable young man from Chelsea in London who wears stylish clothes and acts confident
- Informal
A young man admired for soft, pretty looks and stylish clothes, often in fashion or pop culture
Surface Forms
Etymology
Boy was also used by people in power as an insult to call a grown Black man a 'boy', a way to deny him respect and equality. Because of this history, that use is painful and strongly offensive today.