DictionaryAI

boner

noun
USBOH-ner/ˈboʊ.nɚ/UKBOH-nuh/ˈbəʊ.nə(ɹ)/

Pluralboners

5 meanings of boner

Practice

  1. 1
    erect penisnounslangvulgarcountable
    A penis that has become hard and stiff.

    UsageUsually have a boner. The polite word is erection.

    Similarerection, hard-on

  2. 2
    strange likingnounslangvulgarfigurativelycountable
    A strong and often strange liking for something.

    My uncle has a real boner for old train schedules.

    Our coach has a boner for long practices, and nobody else does.

    UsageUsually have a boner for something: like it too much.

    Similarthing, fetish, obsession

    Note
  3. 3
    silly mistakenoundatedcountable
    A silly mistake, especially one made while playing baseball.

    The catcher pulled a boner and threw the ball over the first baseman's head.

    SO! THEY LAUGH AT MY BONER, WILL THEY?? I'LL SHOW THEM! I'LL SHOW THEM HOW MANY BONERS THE JOKER CAN MAKE!
    1951, Bill Finger, “The Joker's Comedy of Errors!”Here, boner means a silly mistake.

    UsageToday people may hear the rude meaning, so say mistake.

    Similarblunder, mistake, goof, howler, gaffe

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    meat cutternouncountable
    A person, tool, or machine that takes the bones out of meat or fish.

    My uncle works as a boner at a meat plant.

    The new boner at the fish factory works faster than ten people.

  2. 5
    noun
    A joking name for someone who plays the trombone.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of boner apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It is made from bone and the ending -er.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact