Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

old boy network

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.74 in modern English

Syllables: old boy net-work
IPA

26

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

Example Sentences

"His hiring and promotion of senior officers rested not on merit but on an old-boy network of connections from Wall Street and the Social Register."
"Another BWMT member said bars have no open advertising for bartenders and no affirmative action policy. He said bars hire "young, good looking white men" through an "old-boy network.""

Inflected Forms

old boy networks (plural) old-boy network (alternative)

Phrases

male, pale and stale old boys' club

Frequently Paired Words

cronyism male, pale and stale old boys' club

Synonyms

good old boy network

Questions

What does old boy network mean?: A presumed unacknowledged system of association between childhood friends (especially those at school or university together), used for mutual assistance or favouritism.

How to pronounce old boy network

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “old boy network”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “old boy network”.
Repeat and practice — Say “old boy network” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.