pretty boy

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A young man whose physical attractiveness is considered rather unmasculine and who may be vain about his appearance.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A good-looking young man, especially whose good looks are rather effeminate than masculine.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “pretty boy” mean?

A young man whose physical attractiveness is considered rather unmasculine and who may be vain about his appearance.

Is “pretty boy” formal or informal?

pretty boy is generally derogatory, slang.