Guy commonly means a man, but in casual speech it can also refer to people in general, as in “you guys.” In some uses, it can mean any person, especially in informal conversation.
From the name “Guy Fawkes,” a man involved in a failed plot to blow up the English Parliament in 1605. Effigies of him were called “guys,” and the word spread to mean oddly dressed people, then any man.
The everyday word “guy” began as the name of a famous failed bomber, Guy Fawkes. Over centuries, his name went from a specific person to a stuffed dummy to…almost everyone you meet.
Originally from the name Guy Fawkes, “guy” developed into a term for a man and later broadened in some dialects to refer to people of any gender. Despite this, many speakers still perceive it as male‑default, especially in mixed‑gender or formal contexts.
Avoid using “guys” as the default for mixed‑gender or unknown‑gender groups, particularly in professional or educational settings. Use explicitly inclusive group terms instead.
["everyone","folks","you all","team","people"]
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