Word
Definitions
01cattle worker
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a person, usually a man, who looks after cattle on a large farm or ranch.
n. a mounted herder of cattle, particularly associated with the historical and cultural context of the American West.
“The cowboy spent all day on his horse checking the fences and the cattle.”
“The traditional image of the American cowboy has been heavily romanticised in cinema, often ignoring the harsh realities of seasonal ranch work.”
Synonyms
02reckless person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. someone who takes unnecessary risks or ignores rules to show off.
n. an individual who acts in a reckless, independent, or flamboyant manner, often disregarding established procedures or safety.
“The police stopped the driver for being a cowboy on the motorway.”
“The board of directors was wary of hiring such a cowboy, fearing his aggressive tactics might lead to legal complications for the firm.”
03dishonest tradesman
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Informal
n. a worker who does a bad job or is dishonest, especially one who works for themselves.
n. an incompetent or unscrupulous independent tradesperson who performs substandard work or overcharges customers.
“We hired a cowboy to fix the roof, and now it leaks even more.”
“The local council issued a warning against cowboy builders who were targeting elderly residents with offers of cheap driveway repairs.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'cowboy builder' or 'cowboy plumber'.
Antonyms
04to herd cattle
C2 · Proficiency American English
v. to work as a cowboy by looking after cattle.
v. to perform the duties of a cowboy; specifically, to herd or tend cattle on a ranch.
“He spent his youth cowboying across the plains of Montana.”
“After years of cowboying for various outfits, he finally saved enough money to purchase his own modest plot of land.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The government said it wanted to "drive cosmetic cowboys out of the market" and shield people from treatments "that can go badly wrong".” “For several years, Chloe Kerleroux has been photographing African American cowboy communities in the southern US.” “He worked as a cowboy and eventually bought his ranch in 1908.” “He eventually said he had gone because he liked cowboy films.” Etymology
PIE word *gʷṓws From cow + boy. More on Wikipedia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/cowboy
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR