playboy

American  

[pley-boi] / ˈpleɪˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. a man who pursues a life of pleasure without responsibility or attachments, especially one who is of comfortable means.

---

playboy British  

/ ˈpleɪˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. a man, esp one of private means, who devotes himself to the pleasures of nightclubs, expensive holiday resorts, female company, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of playboy

First recorded in 1620–30; play + boy

Example Sentences

"As far as everybody's concerned, you're a playboy," she told him, accusing him of "parading" his relationships with people including British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

LONDON—In 2001, Prince Andrew retired from active duty in the Royal Navy, with a reputation as a war hero and something of a playboy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

Before that date he was “millionaire playboy Jeffrey Epstein.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Everyone knows that his cultivated image of a wealthy playboy who wined and dined beautiful women like he was some kind of matinee idol is another one of his lies.

From Salon • May 10, 2024

Todd had always been, to Zeitoun’s mind, a bit of a wanderer, something of a playboy.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers