The term “fuckboy” (or “fuccboi,” depending on how Very Online you are) has a multitude of meanings — none of which have a positive connotation. It’s an equal-opportunity insult. A condemnation. If a romantic partner has ever referred to you as such, it’s time to do some reflecting, get your affairs in order, and make the appropriate changes. And like the word “hipster,” if you swear you’re not a fuckboy when someone calls you out, you probably are one. Don’t fight it; just do better.
So, what is a fuckboy? For the purposes of this article, it’s a person who doesn’t have enough respect for women to earn their time, attention, or energy. But he never stops trying. And he never stops making excuses for his ineptitude. He’s got no self-awareness or accountability, so he sees zero need for even the slightest bit of growth. And as such, his relationships tend to either fizzle out or crash and burn.
A fuckboy gets dismissed with an eye roll, a sucking of the teeth, or maybe even a middle finger. He never gets to meet the parents or even close friends both because he’s not worthy and because he likely has no interest. He’s only interested in what you can provide in a single moment.
You’ve heard the term, and now you’ve read the explanation, but do you know how to identify one in the wild? Is it your boy — or, more importantly, is it you? Peep the four archetypes below; if you see yourself, it might be time for some self-improvement. Seriously.
The fake-deep fuckboy
He smells like Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap and Nag Champa incense and has ever since he discovered them in college. His patron saint is B.o.B. He’s a thinker and occasionally a reader — usually of conspiracy theories about the moon landing being staged or the Earth being flat. He’s likely not registered to vote. (His third eye told him there’s no point.) If he does register, he plans to write-in Kanye West’s name on his ballot. He doesn’t eat pork, but he definitely smokes blunts. He calls women “sis” or “queen” to condescend, not endear, and his patriarchal attitudes and behaviors reflect that same energy.