machismo

noun

ma·​chis·​mo mä-ˈchēz-(ˌ)mō 

mə-,

-ˈkēz- 

-ˈkiz-,

-ˈchiz-

1

: a strong sense of masculine pride : an exaggerated masculinity

athletes displaying their machismo

2

: an exaggerated or exhilarating sense of power or strength

the administration's machismo in pushing for a new treaty

Synonyms

• masculinity

Examples of machismo in a Sentence

a culture that prizes machismo and has rigid gender roles

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement Gudsen's fractured identity—swaggering machismo versus devoted family man—might suggest dissociative identity disorder, but Lehane resists reducing him to a clinical label. —Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

But for readers, the brutality of Girlie’s work chronicles is offset by her personality—she’s got machismo, smarts, swagger. —Sarah Rose Etter, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025

This cuts several ways: Physical, a reawakening of desire and above all Paola’s rebellion against a soccer machismo where she is kept in the dark about her husband’s economic affairs, her own physical change and the true circumstances of her best friend’s death. —John Hopewell, Variety, 29 July 2025

His machismo may have been especially appealing to some male voters. —Susan Page, USA Today, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from macho

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1