tomboyish

Tomboyish is an adjective used to describe behaviors, interests, or appearances traditionally associated with boys. A tomboyish girl may enjoy physical activities, outdoor play, informal or practical clothing, and a style that leans away from conventional feminine presentation. The word stems from tomboy, a compound of Tom and boy; earliest attestations date to the early modern period, where it described boisterous boys, and by the 19th century it began to be applied to girls who adopt masculine-leaning behaviors, with tomboyish forming as the corresponding adjective.

In contemporary usage, tomboyish is largely descriptive and nonclinical, indicating a temperament or set of interests rather than a fixed identity. It can be used neutrally or affectionately, but it can also reinforce stereotypes that link masculinity with strength or competitiveness. Some contexts treat tomboyish behavior as a temporary phase or as a challenge to strict gender norms, while others emphasize that gender expression exists on a spectrum and can change over time.

Culturally, tomboyish characters appear in literature, film, and media as portrayals of female autonomy or resistance to rigid gender expectations. Critics note that the term can inadvertently reinforce binaries by contrasting tomboyish traits with traditional femininity. Contemporary discussions often favor broader terms such as gender nonconforming or androgynous to describe a wider range of expressions beyond binary categories. Related concepts include tomboy as a noun and discussions of gender expression, nonconformity, and masculinity in women.