1 informal a boy or young man (often as a form of address):come in, lad, and shut the door
(lads) British a group of men sharing recreational, working, or other interests:she wouldn’t let him go out with the lads any morea furious row ensued between the referee and our lads
British a boisterously macho or high-spirited young man:Tony was a bit of a lad—always had an eye for the women
2British a stable worker (regardless of age or sex):it’s great for the lads that the horse has won the National