What does "bloke" mean?
A fellow, a man; especially an ordinary man, a man on the street.
Bloke
/bləʊk/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A fellow, a man; especially an ordinary man, a man on the street.
- Grammar: bloke is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adamite, bastard, beggar, being.
- Usage evidence: Now that I think of it, I've been asked to look at a haiku he'd written by the tipsy bloke sitting next to me on the train.
How to use "bloke"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bloke" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bloke" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bloke" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bloke" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bloke" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adamite" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bloke", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A fellow, a man; especially an ordinary man, a man on the street. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, informal
"He accordingly opened it [a letter], and read as follows:– "Tim put on the tats yesterday and went out a durry-nakin on the shadows, gadding a hoof. He buzzed a bloak and a shakester of a yack and a skin. […]" […] we will lay before our readers a translation of the slang document:– "Tim dressed himself in rags yesterday, and went out disguised as a beggar half-naked and without shoes or stockings. He robbed a gentleman and a lady of a watch and a purse. […]""
- 2 a boy or man wordnet
- 3 An exemplar of a certain masculine, independent male archetype. Australia, Commonwealth, New-Zealand, especially
"‘The Bloke’ is a certain kind of Australian or New Zealand male. […] The Classic Bloke is not a voluble beast. His speech patterns are best described as infrequent but colorful. […] The Bloke is pragmatic rather than classy. […] Most of all, the Bloke does not whinge."
- 4 A man who behaves in a particularly laddish or overtly heterosexual manner. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, especially, informal
"Even now he's like this weird guy who comes into my life occasionally and asks me bloke questions. Sport, girls, your future. Even superannuation. Once he even started telling me how important superannuation was. What a dickhead."
- 5 (A lower deck term for) the captain or executive officer of a warship, especially one regarded as tough on discipline and punishment. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang
"A second green chit and then you get your hat for a talk with the bloke."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 An anglophone (English-speaking) man. Quebec, colloquial
"[A]n organization called "Bloke Quebecois" ("bloke" being a French slang term for Anglophone as well as a reference to the newly formed federal political party, the Bloc Québécois) sold T-shirts that sported the phrase "It's Hip to be Square" (derived from the popular term for an Anglophone, "tête-carrée" or "square head") and a sign with "401" crossed out. The implication was that hitting the 401 was no longer an option; Anglophones were here to stay – and to contribute."
Example
"Now that I think of it, I've been asked to look at a haiku he'd written by the tipsy bloke sitting next to me on the train."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bloke"?
Common synonyms include: adamite, bastard, beggar, being, bird, blighter.
How do you use "bloke" in a sentence?
Now that I think of it, I've been asked to look at a haiku he'd written by the tipsy bloke sitting next to me on the train.
How do you pronounce "bloke"?
Pronounced /bləʊk/.
Etymology
Origin unknown; the following borrowings have been hypothesized: * From a modern Celtic language, such as Irish bloc (“block”) or Scottish Gaelic ploc (“large, stubborn person”, literally “block of wood”), themselves borrowings from English block * From Hindustani لوک (lok) / लोक (lok, “people, folk”) or Shelta loke (“man”).