The slang term "boy toy" is a noun used in American English to describe an attractive young man who has sexual or romantic relationships with older women, especially in a superficial or non-committal way.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a boy toy is "a young man who is sexually involved with an older woman, especially a wealthy one". Merriam-Webster defines it as "a young man who has an intimate relationship with a significantly older woman."
A boy toy is usually a free lover or casual sexual partner of an older woman. He fulfills the role of being her young attraction. The term implies the relationship is primarily physical and non-serious. A boy toy provides companionship with no strings attached. He may accompany her to events or spend time together casually.
This American slang emerged in the 1970s or 1980s. It is used somewhat disparagingly to describe a gigolo-type relationship. However, it may also have a playful connotation, referring to the younger man enjoying the status. The phrase is often used in tabloid headlines about older female celebrities dating younger men.
A boy toy is usually a free lover or casual sexual partner of an older woman.
Other words meaning the same as boy toy include kept man, male mistress, cabana boy, himbo, toyboy, or sugar baby. The older woman in the relationship may be referred to as a cougar or puma.
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In modern usage, boy toy can also indicate a close male friend who a woman enjoys hanging out with platonically. Some consider it a reversal of the "friend zone" when a man only wants friendship but the woman seeks romance.
Overall, boy toy is a flexible term used to characterize male-female relationships with significant age gaps where the younger man entertains or provides companionship to the older woman. It frequently carries sexual connotations but also allows for other nuanced applications. The specific implications depend on context.