male

1 of 2

adjective

ˈmāl 

1

a(1)

: of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to produce relatively small, usually motile gametes which fertilize the eggs of a female

(2)

: having or producing only stamens or staminate flowers

a male holly

b

: having a gender identity that is the opposite of female

c

: made up of usually adult members of the male sex : consisting of males

a male choir

d

: characteristic of boys, men, or the male sex : exhibiting maleness

a deep male voice

e

: designed for or typically used by boys or men

a male cologne

male contraceptives

f

: engaged in or exercised by boys or men

A social code that taught women deference to male power in return for protection was upended …

—Jane E. Schultz

g

: having a quality (such as vigor or boldness) sometimes associated with the male sex

2

: masculine sense 3b

a male rhyme

3

: designed with a projecting part for fitting into a corresponding female part

a male hose coupling

maleness

ˈmāl-nəs 

noun

male

2 of 2

noun

plural males

1

a

: a male person : a man or a boy

b

: an individual of the sex that is typically capable of producing small, usually motile gametes (such as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female

2

: a plant having stamens but no pistils

Synonyms

Adjective

• masculine

Noun

• guy
• gentleman
• man
• dude

Examples of male in a Sentence

Adjective

There were more male than female students.

Most extension cords have a male plug on one end and a female plug on the other.

Noun

She attended a school where there were more males than females.

The male of this species assists the female in feeding the young.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

When first responders arrived, the male witness took his dogs home and his wife went to alert Samadi’s husband at their home, the reports said. —Pam Defiglio, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

The Fayette County Coroner's Office in Lexington, Kentucky, said in a statement that the autopsy on the male infant was completed, but the findings were inconclusive as extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Noun

The powers that be explained to me that in the audiobook, there would be no easy way to identify the bees’ chapters, which were designated with italics in the printed version, unless the narrator’s voice changed from female to male. —Elizabeth Bass Parman, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

In lesser hands, such a question, especially from a young white male who plays guitar for a living, could come off as whining. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French masle, male, adjective & noun, from Latin masculus — more at masculine

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for male

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

Kids Definition

male

1 of 2 adjective

ˈmā(ə)l 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of females

b

: bearing only stamens

especially : having only stamens and not producing fruit or seeds

a male holly

2

: made up or consisting of males

a male choir

maleness noun

male

2 of 2 noun

: a male individual

Medical Definition

male

1 of 2 noun

ˈmā(ə)l 

: an individual that produces small usually motile gametes (as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female

male

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of female

2

: designed for fitting into a corresponding hollow part

Geographical Definition

Male

geographical name

Ma·​le ˈmä-lē 

atoll in the Indian Ocean that is the chief island of the Maldives and contains the nation's capital population 103,693