Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Dictionary

boner

noun bon·er \ˈbō-nər\

Definition of BONER

1

: one that bones

2

: a clumsy or stupid mistake; also : howler 2

3

usually vulgar : an erect penis

See boner defined for English-language learners

See boner defined for kids

First Known Use of BONER

circa 1899

Rhymes with BONER

cloner, donor, droner, groaner, honer, loaner, loner, moaner, owner, stoner, toner, zoner

Learn More About BONER

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "boner"

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: bonesetPrevious Word in the Dictionary: bonemealAll Words Near: boner

ADVERTISEMENT

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up boner? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated