# lads

/ˈɫædz/ (US) · /lˈædz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lads
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. a group of friends

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect · Informal

a group of close friends, used regardless of whether they are men or women.

For teachers: a gender-neutral collective noun for a close-knit group of friends.

- I am going out for dinner with the lads from work tonight.
- In many Northern English and Irish communities, 'the lads' serves as a generic term for one's social circle, irrespective of the gender of the individuals involved.

Usage: Common in Northern England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware that this gender-neutral use is highly regional; in most other places, it specifically implies a male group.

## Examples

- I am going out with the lads tonight.
- After the football match, the lads headed to the local pub to celebrate their victory.
- The documentary explores the changing social dynamics among the lads in small industrial towns where traditional manufacturing jobs have vanished.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.