Phrase guide

old boy network

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A presumed unacknowledged system of association between childhood friends (especially those at school or university together), used for mutual assistance or favouritism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: good old boy network

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an exclusive informal network linking members of a social class or profession or organization in order to provide connections and information and favors (especially in business or politics)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • professional women have developed an old boy network of their own

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: network, web

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vanhojen kaverien verkosto — system of favouritism
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gutteklubb — system of favouritism
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gutteklubben Grei — system of favouritism
  • Polish: kolesiostwo — system of favouritism