pageboy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (for attendant); Fashion/Hair (for hairstyle)
Quick answer
What does “pageboy” mean?
A young male attendant or messenger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A young male attendant or messenger.
A hairstyle, typically worn by women, featuring a chin-length cut with ends turned under.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The attendant meaning is slightly more current in BrE, especially for a young boy accompanying a bride at a wedding. AmE more strongly favors 'pageboy' for the hairstyle.
Connotations
In both varieties, the attendant meaning carries historical or formal/ceremonial connotations. The hairstyle connotes a classic or retro look from the mid-20th century.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The hairstyle term is more frequent than the attendant term in contemporary general use.
Grammar
How to Use “pageboy” in a Sentence
serve as a pageboyhave a pageboy (hairstyle)wear one's hair in a pageboyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pageboy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She sported a chic pageboy look for the event.
American English
- The pageboy cut was popular in the 1950s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in historical business novels.
Academic
Used in historical or cultural studies discussing medieval courts or 20th-century fashion.
Everyday
Primarily in the context of weddings (person) or hair salons (style).
Technical
In hairdressing, it is a specific technical term for a cut.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pageboy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pageboy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pageboy”
- Using 'pageboy' to refer to a female attendant (use 'bridesmaid' or 'page').
- Confusing 'pageboy' (haircut) with 'pixie cut' (shorter, more textured).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A pageboy is historically a young male attendant in a noble household or a ceremonial role (like in a wedding). A bellboy (or bellhop) is specifically a hotel employee who carries luggage.
Yes, absolutely. The pageboy hairstyle is almost exclusively associated with women's fashion, despite the masculine root of the word.
A pageboy is a specific type of bob haircut that is blunt-cut and characterised by the ends being turned under (flipped inward), typically at chin length. A general bob can be varied in length and style.
For the attendant meaning, yes, it has an old-fashioned or highly specific (wedding) feel. For the hairstyle, it is a standard technical term in hairdressing, though it references a classic style.
A young male attendant or messenger.
Pageboy is usually formal (for attendant); fashion/hair (for hairstyle) in register.
Pageboy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪdʒbɔɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪdʒˌbɔɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PAGE in a history book about a BOY servant, or a PAGE (sheet) of hair turned under like a book page.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERVICE IS SUBORDINATION (for person), UNIFORMITY IS ELEGANCE (for hairstyle).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pageboy' most likely to refer to a person today?