ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bloke

n.
US //ˈbɫoʊk// UK //blˈəʊk// bloke
  1. 1 a man (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Informal

    an informal word for a man.

    an informal term for a man, often implying he is an ordinary person or a 'regular guy'.

    Example

    He seems like a nice bloke once you get to know him.

    Example

    I was just chatting to some bloke at the bus stop who told me the trains were cancelled for the rest of the afternoon.

    Usage

    Commonly used in British and Australian English; less common in American English where 'guy' is preferred.

    Teacher's tip

    While generally friendly, it is strictly informal; students should avoid using it in professional emails or academic writing.
  2. 2 masculine archetype (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal

    a man who acts in a very traditional or 'manly' way.

    a man who embodies traditional masculine traits, often associated with being down-to-earth, independent, or interested in stereotypically male hobbies.

    Example

    He's a real bloke's bloke who loves football and fixing cars.

    Example

    The marketing campaign was clearly designed to appeal to the 'average bloke' who values practical results over aesthetic flourishes.
    • man's man
  3. 3 naval officer (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang Technical

    a nickname used by sailors for the captain or a high-ranking officer on a ship.

    a traditional lower-deck slang term for the commanding officer or executive officer of a naval vessel.

    Example

    The sailors were nervous because the bloke was known for being very strict.

    Example

    In the closed world of the destroyer, the 'Bloke' was a figure of both immense authority and constant scrutiny by the crew.

    Usage

    Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
Origin

Origin unknown; the following borrowings have been hypothesized: * From a modern Celtic language, such as Irish bloc (“block”) or Scottish Gaelic ploc (“large, stubborn person”, literally “block of wood”), themselves borrowings from English block * From Hindustani لوک (lok) / लोक (lok, “people, folk”) or Shelta loke (“man”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026