guy

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgī 

1

a

: man, fellow

b

: person

—used in plural to refer to the members of a group regardless of sex

saw her and the rest of the guys

2

: individual, creature

The other dogs pale in comparison to this little guy.

3

often capitalized : a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawkes traditionally displayed and burned in England on Guy Fawkes Day

4

chiefly British : a person of grotesque appearance

guy

2 of 4

noun (2)

: a rope, chain, rod, or wire attached to something as a brace or guide

called also guyline

guy

3 of 4

verb (1)

guyed; guying; guys

transitive verb

: to steady or reinforce with a guy

guy

4 of 4

verb (2)

guyed; guying; guys

transitive verb

: to make fun of : ridicule

Did you know?

In England, November 5—Guy Fawkes Day—is celebrated by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The day is named after a 17th-century man, Guy Fawkes, who led a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before he could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The human likenesses burned on the fires came to be called guys. The verb guy “to ridicule” is derived from this story also. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the US, the word came to mean simply “man” and in time “a person of either sex.”

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• baby
• being
• bird
• bod [British]
• body
• character
• cookie
• cooky
• creature
• customer
• devil
• duck
• egg
• face
• fish
• head
• human
• human being
• individual
• life
• man
• mortal
• party
• person
• personage
• scout
• slob
• sort
• soul
• specimen
• stiff
• thing
• wight

Examples of guy in a Sentence

Noun (1)

what would you guys like to order?

was not the kind of guy she ever thought she'd date

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Toronto also picked up right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin, a very effective guy against hitters on both sides of the plate despite a lower arm slot thanks to a plus splitter. —Keith Law, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024

Despite his corporate success, Mr. Thompson remained the same funny, down-to-earth guy, Mr. Hill said. —Amy Julia Harris, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024

Verb

Now Texans just guy a handgun. —Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 1 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Guy Fawkes

Noun (2)

probably from Dutch gei brail

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1623, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1712, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing guy

• bad guy
• fall guy
• good guy
• little guy
• the little guy
• wise guy

Kids Definition

guy

1 of 3 noun

ˈgī 

: a rope, chain, rod, or wire attached to something as a brace or guide

guy

2 of 3 verb

guyed; guying

: to steady or strengthen with a guy

guy

3 of 3 noun

: fellow sense 4a, b

Etymology

Noun

probably from Dutch gei "a rope used to control a sail"

Noun

named for Guy Fawkes 1570–1606 English criminal

Word Origin

November 5 is a holiday in England, and people celebrate it by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The holiday is called "Guy Fawkes Day" for a 17th century man who played a leading role in a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before Fawkes could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The likenesses burned to celebrate the failure of the plot came to be called guys. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the U.S., guy came to mean simply "man" and, in time, a person of either sex.