lad
/læd/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: lads
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A boy or young man.
Noun
Examples
How great is that danger, to which poor lads are now exposed, when placed on shipboard to learn the art of sailing! Five lads, training up for the seas, were now on board this ship; […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A hedonistic or irresponsible young man; A Jack the lad.
NounRegister: UK
Examples
I think he reckons he’s a bit of a lad.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “lad” mean?
A boy or young man.
Is “lad” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.