playboy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, sometimes pejorative
Quick answer
What does “playboy” mean?
A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who has many sexual relationships and avoids serious commitments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who has many sexual relationships and avoids serious commitments.
Can refer to a magazine (Playboy) founded by Hugh Hefner, which popularized the term and the associated lifestyle of hedonism, luxury, and sexual liberation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition. The associated magazine 'Playboy' is an American brand but widely recognized in the UK.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of a bygone, 20th-century lifestyle. It can sound slightly dated or nostalgic.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the cultural impact of the Playboy brand, but the word is common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “playboy” in a Sentence
[be/act/live like] a playboythe playboy of [place, e.g., the Riviera]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “playboy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Verb form is not standard for 'playboy'. The related verb 'play about/around' is used.
American English
- Verb form is not standard for 'playboy'. The related verb 'play around' is used.
adverb
British English
- Adverb form does not exist.
American English
- Adverb form does not exist.
adjective
British English
- He cultivated a playboy image.
- The playboy lifestyle is ultimately unfulfilling.
American English
- She wasn't interested in his playboy antics.
- He lived in a playboy penthouse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in media/entertainment contexts (e.g., 'Playboy Enterprises').
Academic
Used in cultural studies, gender studies, or media analysis of 20th-century lifestyle and masculinity.
Everyday
Used informally to describe a man perceived as rich, irresponsible, and focused on pleasure.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “playboy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “playboy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “playboy”
- Using it to describe any young man who parties a lot (misses the essential connotation of wealth/sophistication).
- Using it in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it often carries a negative or judgemental connotation of irresponsibility and superficiality. It can sometimes be used admiringly or enviously to describe a glamorous lifestyle.
No, the term is exclusively male. The female equivalent is 'playgirl', though it is far less common and lacks the same cultural resonance.
A 'playboy' strongly implies significant wealth and a luxurious lifestyle. A 'ladies' man' simply describes a man popular with women, regardless of his financial status.
Its usage has declined since its mid-20th century peak. It can sound dated. Modern equivalents might include 'fuckboy' (vulgar, implies emotional manipulation without the wealth connotation) or simply 'rich party guy'.
A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who has many sexual relationships and avoids serious commitments.
Playboy is usually informal, sometimes pejorative in register.
Playboy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpleɪbɔɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpleɪˌbɔɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He's] the playboy of the Western world.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOY whose only purpose is to PLAY, but as a wealthy adult man.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME; a playboy is a player who treats life, and relationships, as a game for pleasure.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST essential characteristic of a 'playboy'?