# playboy

/ˈpɫeɪˌbɔɪ/ (US) · /plˈeɪbɔɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wealthy man of leisure

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a rich man who spends his life having fun, going to parties, and dating many people rather than working.

For teachers: a wealthy man who devotes himself to a life of leisure and pleasure, particularly one involving frequent socialising and casual romantic pursuits.

- The young playboy spent his inheritance on fast cars and luxury holidays in Europe.
- The media often portrayed him as a shallow playboy, more interested in the guest lists of exclusive clubs than in managing his family's vast industrial empire.

### 3. lifestyle or attitude

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing a lifestyle focused on pleasure, expensive things, and casual dating.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of a hedonistic lifestyle, often associated with wealth and sexual freedom.

- He lived a playboy lifestyle for years before finally deciding to settle down.
- The film explores the darker side of the playboy image, showing the loneliness that often hides behind a facade of constant partying.

## Examples

- He lived the life of a playboy, traveling between luxury hotels.
- The media often portrayed the young heir as a playboy until he took over the family business and proved his critics wrong.
- The novel explores the hollow existence of a mid-century playboy who finds that his vast inheritance and string of social engagements cannot mask his growing sense of isolation.

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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.