DictionaryAI

guy

UKGY/ɡaɪ/

Pluralguys

10 meanings of guy

Practice

  1. 1
    man or boynouncolloquialcountable
    A word people use in everyday talk for a man or a boy.

    That guy over there is my older brother.

    A few guys from the team came to help us move.

    UsageSay a nice guy. In formal writing, use man or boy, depending on age.

    Similarman, fellow, bloke, chap, dude

    Note
  2. 2
    everyone (group)nouncountableplural
    Any person at all, used most often in the plural to talk to or about a group, whatever their gender.

    Are you guys ready to order?

    Mom smiled at me and my sisters and said, 'Dinner's ready, guys!'

    UsagePeople say you guys to any group. Some people hear it as meaning men.

    Similarfolks, people

    Note
  3. 3
    lovable creaturenouncolloquialcountable
    A friendly way to talk about an animal or a thing, as in 'this little guy'.

    "Come here, little guy!" she said to the puppy.

    We named our robot vacuum Max, and the little guy cleans the whole house every day.

    UsageOften in little guy, for a pet or toy.

    Similarfellow

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3, 6–9

From Guy Fawkes, part of a 1605 plot to blow up Parliament. His name went to the dummies burned each November, then to any man.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

  • The noun derives from Guy Fawkes's name. gutenberg.org
  • Guy Fawkes participated in the 1605 conspiracy to blow up Parliament. parliament.uk
  • Fawkes's name became the name for dummies burned annually in November. en.wiktionary.org
  • The word later developed the general meaning 'man'. gutenberg.org
Meanings 4–5, 10

It comes from Old French guie, from a verb meaning "guide." It is related to the English word guide.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts