leading man

noun

: an actor who plays the leading male role

Examples of leading man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are joined by rising leading man Zo In-sung and Parasite co-star Cho Yeo-jeong. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

After two decades in Hollywood, Stan has become a leading man by physically transforming himself — and by searching for lower-budget, independent, and international films in which to do it. — Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

About a year later, in May 2026, the studio announced that the search for the next leading man had begun. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026

Between the huge practical sets and stunts, the matte paintings and in-camera trickery, the on-location filming, and a leading man at the height of his movie star powers, Spielberg and his team performed the filmmaking equivalent of wizardry. — Frank Deruggiero, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for leading man

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan

Kids Definition

leading man

noun

: an actor who plays the leading male role in a play or movie