Word
lad
US/ˈɫæd/
UK/lˈæd/
In Japanese
(one's) older brother
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01a boy or young man
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal · British English
n. a friendly way to talk about a boy or a young man.
n. a boy or young man; often used as a familiar or affectionate term of address.
“He was a good lad who always helped his neighbours with their shopping.”
“The local shopkeeper remembered him as a bright lad who spent most of his summer holidays reading in the park.”
Antonyms
02a hedonistic young man
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · British English
n. a young man who enjoys drinking, sports, and being loud with his male friends.
n. a young man who participates in 'lad culture', typically involving hedonism, male bonding, and often irresponsible behaviour.
“He was a bit of a lad in his twenties, always out at the pub.”
“The marketing campaign was clearly aimed at the 'lad' demographic, featuring fast cars and loud, energetic music.”
Synonyms
03horse groom
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. a person who works in a stable and looks after horses.
n. a person, regardless of age or gender, employed in a stable to groom and care for horses.
“The stable lad spent the morning brushing the horses before the race.”
“Despite the name, a stable lad is often a seasoned professional responsible for the daily health and maintenance of high-value thoroughbreds.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lad” in context.
Verb
01. know the lad
“I've known the lad since he was in primary school, and he's always been hardworking.”
verb + noun
Adjective
02. cheeky lad
“The cheeky lad gave the teacher a wink and slipped out of the classroom.”
adj + noun
03. local lad
“Despite his international fame, he remains a local lad at heart and visits his hometown often.”
adj + noun
04. strapping lad
“He has grown into a strapping lad who helps his father with the heavy work on the farm.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. group of lads
“A group of lads were seen playing football in the park until the sun went down.”
noun + of + noun
06. lad about town
“In his twenties, he was quite the lad about town, always seen at the trendiest bars.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“We have boys who’ve been great servants in the league but haven’t played a lot of European football, and young lads with that fresh hunger, wanting to play in it.” “The pattern is a repeating one: local lads (they’re usually lads) make good, and want to give back to the team they’ve followed since they were little.” “We also hear Portugal are planning their Euro 2028 hopes around some lad at Al-Nassr; we’ll keep you updated once we’ve found out a bit more about him.” Related words
Domains
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lad
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0