ENGLISH
REFERENCE

boner

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈboʊnɝ// UK //bˈəʊnɐ// bon·er Archaic Humorous Slang Vulgar

n. an erection of the penis. This is a very informal and often rude word for a physical state in men.

n. an erection of the penis. Often considered crude or vulgar; inappropriate for formal or professional contexts.


SIMPLE

He was embarrassed because he got a boner in class.

CONTEXTUAL

The teenager felt a sudden surge of panic when he realized he had a boner while standing up to give his presentation.

COMPLEX

While the term is frequently used in adolescent humor to describe a physical erection, its usage in adult conversation is generally restricted to highly informal or intentionally crude contexts.

Synonyms
Origin

From bone + -er.

© 2026 English Reference