top boy

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

Meaning · English

A leader, kingpin, or boss in the drug trade or gang hierarchy.

Register: slang

Examples

I love Top Boy, which is not only the name of the show but the British term for big boss man, the kingpin, etc. The top boy is the one who runs the drug trade.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “top boy” mean?

A leader, kingpin, or boss in the drug trade or gang hierarchy.

Is “top boy” formal or informal?

top boy is generally slang.