English Reference
noun

lad

n.
US /ˈɫæd/ UK /lˈæd/ lad

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate InformalBritish English

    a friendly way to talk about a boy or a young man.

    a boy or young man; often used as a familiar or affectionate term of address.

    Simple

    He was a good lad who always helped his neighbours with their shopping.

    In context

    The local shopkeeper remembered him as a bright lad who spent most of his summer holidays reading in the park.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalBritish English

    a young man who enjoys drinking, sports, and being loud with his male friends.

    a young man who participates in 'lad culture', typically involving hedonism, male bonding, and often irresponsible behaviour.

    Simple

    He was a bit of a lad in his twenties, always out at the pub.

    In context

    The marketing campaign was clearly aimed at the 'lad' demographic, featuring fast cars and loud, energetic music.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical

    a person who works in a stable and looks after horses.

    a person, regardless of age or gender, employed in a stable to groom and care for horses.

    Simple

    The stable lad spent the morning brushing the horses before the race.

    In context

    Despite the name, a stable lad is often a seasoned professional responsible for the daily health and maintenance of high-value thoroughbreds.

    groomstable hand

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 Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

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.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated