manhood

noun

man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d 

1

: the condition of being a human being

2

: qualities associated with men : manliness

3

: the condition of being an adult male as distinguished from a child or female

4

: adult males : men

5

: penis

Synonyms

• masculinity

Examples of manhood in a Sentence

He took the comment as a challenge to his manhood.

He grew from boyhood to manhood in a small southern town.

the manhood of a nation

Recent Examples on the Web

Some guys are finding solace in extreme physical activity with expletive-laden barking from a drill sergeant to reclaim their manhood. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Over the course of the novel, Agu undergoes a treacherous coming of age, shedding his former identity as a bookish boy and entering into a manhood marked by extraordinary violence, abuse and horror. —Katie Kitamura august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025

And all this manhood, all this masculinity just strips away and falls apart and all we are left with is a heap of a human being, a small human being with all his frailties. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025

Intentionally or not, these memes only reinforce the idea that the manosphere’s version of manhood is the default state of masculinity, and that any variations are an aberration, or worse, a farce. —James Factora, Them., 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manhood

• prove one's manhood

Rhymes for manhood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

Kids Definition

manhood

noun

man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d 

1

: courage, manliness

2

: the condition of being an adult male

3

: adult human males

the manhood of a nation