ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lad

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɫæd// UK //lˈæd// lad Informal

n. a boy or a young man. In some places, it is also used for a friendly man who likes to have fun with his group of male friends.

n. a boy or young man; frequently used in British and Irish English to refer to a male peer. In contemporary usage, it often carries a connotation of 'lad culture,' referring to young men who participate in boisterous or stereotypically masculine social activities.


SIMPLE

He was a good lad and always helped his neighbors.

CONTEXTUAL

After the football match, the lads went to the local pub to celebrate their victory.

COMPLEX

The documentary explores the evolution of the 'lad' archetype in British media, tracing its shift from a simple term for a youth to a complex symbol of working-class masculinity.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in the plural ('the lads') to refer to a specific group of male friends.

© 2026 English Reference