The difference between Boy and Lad

When used as nouns, boy means a male child or teenager, as distinguished from infants or adults, whereas lad means a boy or young man.


Boy is also interjection with the meaning: exclamation of surprise, pleasure or longing.

Boy is also verb with the meaning: to use the word boy to refer to someone.

check bellow for the other definitions of Boy and Lad

  1. Boy as a noun:

    A young male, particularly A male child or teenager, as distinguished from infants or adults.

    Examples:

    "Kate is dating a boy named Jim."

  2. Boy as a noun (diminutive):

    A male child: a son of any age.

  3. Boy as a noun (affectionate, diminutive):

    A male of any age, particularly one rather younger than the speaker.

  4. Boy as a noun (obsolete):

    A male of low station, (especially as pejorative) a worthless male, a wretch; a mean and dishonest male, a knave.

  5. Boy as a noun (now, rare, and, usually, offensive, _, outside some Commonwealth nations):

    A male servant, slave, assistant, or employee, particularly: A younger such worker. A non-white male servant regardless of age, particularly as a form of address. A male camp follower.

  6. Boy as a noun (now, offensive):

    Any non-white male, regardless of age.

  7. Boy as a noun:

    A male animal, especially, in affectionate address, a male dog.

    Examples:

    "C'mere, boy! Good boy! Who's a good boy?"

    "Are you getting a boy cat or a girl cat?"

  8. Boy as a noun (historical, military):

    A former low rank of various armed services; a holder of this rank.

  9. Boy as a noun (US, slang):

    Heroin.

  1. Boy as a verb:

    to use the word boy to refer to someone

    Examples:

    "Don't boy me!"

  2. Boy as a verb (transitive):

    to act as a boy

  1. Lad as a noun:

    A boy or young man.

  2. Lad as a noun (British):

    A Jack the lad; a boyo.

    Examples:

    "I think he reckons he's a bit of a lad."

    "Last night I was out drinking with the lads."

  3. Lad as a noun:

    Examples:

    "Come here, lad, and help me shift these boxes."

  4. Lad as a noun:

    A groom who works with horses (also called stable-lad).

  5. Lad as a noun (Ireland, colloquial):

    The penis.

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