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{{Other uses}} {{Other uses}}
{{Technical reasons|Boyfriend #2|that song|Boyfriend No. 2}}
⚫ {{Close Relationships}}
{{short description|Romantically involved male companion}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2011}}
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A '''boyfriend''' is a regular male companion in a deep, strong and close ] and or ], <ref>Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-861022-9 edition</ref> although normally not in long-term committed (e.g. marital) relationships, where other titles (e.g. ''husband, partner'') are more commonly used. A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, fiancé, suitor and soul mate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Boyfriend|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/boyfriend?s=t|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref>
⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
⚫ {{Close Relationships|types}}
A '''boyfriend''' is a man who is a ] or ] to the speaker, often specifying a regular male companion with whom a person is ], ] or ].<ref>Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, {{ISBN|978-0-19-861022-9}} edition</ref>

A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, suitor and sweetheart.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Boyfriend|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/boyfriend?s=t|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> The analogous term for women is "]".


==Scope== ==Scope==
] ] in March 1975]]
] ]
Partners in committed non-marital relationships are also sometimes described as a '']'' or ''partner'', Partners in committed non-marital relationships are also sometimes described as a '']'' or ''partner'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Significant other|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/significant+other?s=t|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-date=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309183016/http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/significant+other?s=t|url-status=dead}}</ref> especially if the individuals are cohabiting.
<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Significant other|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/significant+other?s=t|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> especially if the individuals are cohabiting.


''Boyfriend'' and ''partner'' mean different things to different people; the distinctions between the terms are subjective. How the term is used will ultimately be determined by personal preference.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wavey|first=Davey|title="Partner" vs "Boyfriend"|url=breaktheillusion.com/life/partner-vs-boyfriend/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Meredith|title=Partner? Boyfriernd? Maybe?|url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/blog/2009/06/partner_boyfriend_mate.html|accessdate=6 May 2012|work=The Boston Globe|date=15 June 2009}}</ref> A 2005 study of 115 people ages 21 to 35 who were either living with or had lived with a romantic partner notes that the lack of proper terms often leads to awkward situations, such as someone upset over not being introduced in social situations to avoid the question.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jayson|first=Sharon|title=Adults stumble over what to call their romantic partners|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-06-22-adult-dating-descriptor_N.htm|access-date=6 May 2012|work=USA Today|date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

A 2005 study of 115 people ages 21 to 35 who were either living with or had lived with a romantic partner notes that the lack of proper terms often leads to awkward situations, such as someone upset over not being introduced in social situations to avoid the question.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jayson|first=Sharon|title=Adults stumble over what to call their romantic partners|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-06-22-adult-dating-descriptor_N.htm|accessdate=6 May 2012|work=USA Today|date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

There is a significant difference between '']'' and ''boyfriend'', and ''girl friend'' and ''boy friend''. In a strictly grammatical sense, a ''girlfriend''<ref name="girlfriend"/> or ''boyfriend''<ref name="boyfriend"/> is an 'individual of significance' with whom one shares a relationship.


==Word history== ==Word history==
The word ''dating'' entered the American language during the Roaring Twenties. Prior to that, courtship was a matter of family and community interest. Starting around the time of the Civil War, courtship became a private matter for couples.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hirsch|first=Elaine|title=The History of Dating and Communication|url=http://www.communicationstudies.com/the-history-of-dating-and-communication|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> In the early to mid 20th century in the ], women were often visited by "gentleman callers", single men who would arrive at the home of a young woman with the hopes of beginning a ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=Lana J.|title=Ladies and Gentleman|url=http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/townevictorian/ladiesgentlemen.html|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> The era of the gentleman caller ended in the early 20th century and the modern idea of dating developed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hirsch|first=Elaine|title=The History of Dating and Communication|url=http://www.communicationstudies.com/the-history-of-dating-and-communication|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> The word ''dating'' entered the American language during the ]. Prior to that, courtship was a matter of family and community interest. Starting around the time of the ], courtship became a private matter for couples.<ref name="Hirsch">{{cite web|last=Hirsch|first=Elaine|title=The History of Dating and Communication|date=November 2011|url=http://www.communicationstudies.com/the-history-of-dating-and-communication|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> In the early to mid 19th century in the US, women were often visited by "gentleman callers", single men who would arrive at the home of a young woman with the hopes of beginning a ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=Lana J.|title=Ladies and Gentleman|url=http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/townevictorian/ladiesgentlemen.html|access-date=6 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728021740/http://www.angelfire.com/ar3/townevictorian/ladiesgentlemen.html|archive-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> The era of the gentleman caller ended in the early 20th century and the modern idea of dating developed.<ref name="Hirsch" />


In literature, the term is discussed in July 1988 in ]'s, ''Who Was That Man? A Present for Mr Oscar Wilde.'' On pages 108-110, Bartlett quotes from an issue of '']'', which refers to ] as "a boyfriend of ]". In literature, the term is discussed in July 1988 in ]'s ''Who Was That Man? A Present for Mr Oscar Wilde.'' On pages 108–110, Bartlett quotes from an issue of '']'', which refers to ] as "a boyfriend of ]".


==Synonyms== ==Synonyms==
⚫ *An older man may be referred to as a '']'', a well-to-do man who financially supports or lavishly spends on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web|last=Merriam-Webster|title=Sugar daddy|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugar%20daddy|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref>

⚫ *In popular culture, slang, internet chat, and cellphone texting, the truncated ] ''bf'' is also used.<ref></ref>
⚫ *An older man may be referred to as a sugar daddy, a well-to-do man who financially supports or lavishly spends on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web|last=Merriam-Webster|title=Sugar daddy|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugar%20daddy|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref>
⚫ *''Leman'', an archaic word for "sweetheart, paramour," from Medieval British ''leofman'' (c.1205), from Old English ''leof'' (cognate of Dutch ''lief'', German ''lieb'') "dear" + ''man'' "human being, person" was originally applied to either gender, but usually means mistress.<ref>{{cite web|last=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|title=Leman|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Leman|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref>
⚫ *In popular culture, slang, internet chat, and cellphone texting, the truncated ] ''bf'' is also used.<ref></ref>
⚫ * The term ''young man'' was at some periods used with a similar connotation. For example, in the 1945 film '']'' the female protagonist, seeking a secretarial job, is asked if she has "a young man"<ref>{{cite web|last=Aliperti|first=Cliff|title=My Name is Julia Ross (1945) starring Nina Foch and George Macready|date=25 July 2010|url=http://www.things-and-other-stuff.com/6656/my-name-is-julia-ross-1945/|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> – where in later films a similar question would have referred to "a boyfriend".
⚫ *Leman, an archaic word for "sweetheart, paramour," from Medieval British ''leofman'' (c.1205), from Old English ''leof'' (cognate of Dutch ''lief'', German ''lieb'') "dear" + ''man'' "human being, person" was originally applied to either gender, but usually means mistress.<ref>{{cite web|last=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|title=Leman|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Leman|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref>
⚫ * The term ''young man'' was at some periods used with a similar connotation. For example, in the 1945 film "]" the female protagonist, seeking a secretarial job, is asked if she has "a young man"<ref>{{cite web|last=Aliperti|first=Cliff|title=My Name is Julia Ross (1945) starring Nina Foch and George Macready|url=http://www.things-and-other-stuff.com/6656/my-name-is-julia-ross-1945/|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> - where in later films a similar question would have referred to "a boyfriend".


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Society}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|refs= {{reflist}}

<ref name="girlfriend">{{cite web|title=Girlfriend|url=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=girlfriend|publisher=]|accessdate=11 November 2010}}</ref>

<ref name="boyfriend">{{cite web|title=Boyfriend|url=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=boyfriend|publisher=]|accessdate=11 November 2010}}</ref>

}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wiktionary}} {{Wiktionary}}
* *

⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}}


] ]
]

] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 15:31, 19 December 2024

For other uses, see Boyfriend (disambiguation). For technical reasons, "Boyfriend #2" redirects here. For that song, see Boyfriend No. 2. Romantically involved male companion


Relationships
(Outline)
Types
Genetic or adoptive
By marriage
Partner(s)
Intimate and sexual
Activities
Endings
Emotions and feelings
Practices
Abuse

A boyfriend is a man who is a friend or acquaintance to the speaker, often specifying a regular male companion with whom a person is platonically, romantically or sexually involved.

A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, suitor and sweetheart. The analogous term for women is "girlfriend".

Scope

A woman with her boyfriend at Alexanderplatz in March 1975
A man with his boyfriend

Partners in committed non-marital relationships are also sometimes described as a significant other or partner, especially if the individuals are cohabiting.

A 2005 study of 115 people ages 21 to 35 who were either living with or had lived with a romantic partner notes that the lack of proper terms often leads to awkward situations, such as someone upset over not being introduced in social situations to avoid the question.

Word history

The word dating entered the American language during the Roaring Twenties. Prior to that, courtship was a matter of family and community interest. Starting around the time of the American Civil War, courtship became a private matter for couples. In the early to mid 19th century in the US, women were often visited by "gentleman callers", single men who would arrive at the home of a young woman with the hopes of beginning a courtship. The era of the gentleman caller ended in the early 20th century and the modern idea of dating developed.

In literature, the term is discussed in July 1988 in Neil Bartlett's Who Was That Man? A Present for Mr Oscar Wilde. On pages 108–110, Bartlett quotes from an issue of The Artist and Journal of Home Culture, which refers to Alectryon as "a boyfriend of Mars".

Synonyms

  • An older man may be referred to as a sugar daddy, a well-to-do man who financially supports or lavishly spends on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.
  • In popular culture, slang, internet chat, and cellphone texting, the truncated acronym bf is also used.
  • Leman, an archaic word for "sweetheart, paramour," from Medieval British leofman (c.1205), from Old English leof (cognate of Dutch lief, German lieb) "dear" + man "human being, person" was originally applied to either gender, but usually means mistress.
  • The term young man was at some periods used with a similar connotation. For example, in the 1945 film My Name Is Julia Ross the female protagonist, seeking a secretarial job, is asked if she has "a young man" – where in later films a similar question would have referred to "a boyfriend".

See also

References

  1. Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-861022-9 edition
  2. Thesaurus.com. "Boyfriend". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. Thesaurus.com. "Significant other". Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  4. Jayson, Sharon (23 June 2008). "Adults stumble over what to call their romantic partners". USA Today. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  5. ^ Hirsch, Elaine (November 2011). "The History of Dating and Communication". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  6. Hunt, Lana J. "Ladies and Gentleman". Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. Merriam-Webster. "Sugar daddy". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  8. BF – Definition by AcronymFinder
  9. The Free Dictionary By Farlex. "Leman". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  10. Aliperti, Cliff (25 July 2010). "My Name is Julia Ross (1945) starring Nina Foch and George Macready". Retrieved 6 May 2012.

External links

Categories: