A schoolboy is simply a boy who attends school. In the most straightforward sense, any male student from elementary through high school could be called a schoolboy, though the term is used less commonly in modern American English than it once was.

The word appears most often in British English and in older books, where you might read about “schoolboy adventures” or “schoolboy pranks.” These phrases suggest the particular energy, mischief, and enthusiasm that young boys often bring to their school years: think of friends racing each other to class, inventing games at recess, or getting into minor trouble for talking during lessons.

When someone describes behavior as schoolboyish, they usually mean it seems immature or overly playful, like giggling at silly jokes during a serious moment. But schoolboy experiences also include genuine excitement about learning something new, the thrill of making lifelong friends, and the challenge of figuring out who you want to become.

In sports, particularly cricket and rugby, the term can describe teams made up of boys still in school, as opposed to adult or professional teams. A schoolboy cricket match features students representing their schools in competition.