masculinity
noun
mas·cu·lin·i·ty
ˌma-skyə-ˈli-nə-tē 
: the quality or nature of the male sex : the quality, state, or degree of being masculine or manly
challenging traditional notions about masculinity and femininity
… a style which alternates between a polished grace and blunt masculinity.—
Stuart Keate
Stuart KeateThe man controlling his environment is today the prevailing American image of masculinity.—Susan Faludi
Susan Faludi
Examples of masculinity in a Sentence
some men believe that wearing pink would undermine their masculinity
Recent Examples on the Web
An extremely rich blowhard who is used to running roughshod over anyone who gets in his way, Charlie is about to receive big-time payback for his toxic masculinity.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
The book’s themes—money, power, race, masculinity—are just as grand.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
For others, there may be an aspect of flexing one’s masculinity and success through the consumption of beefsteak, a luxury in much of the world.
—Steven Kurutz Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
And his authenticity in self-expression, at the next level, promises to challenge long-running perceptions of masculinity around football.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
In hindsight, there was something audacious — and yes, political — in Ang Lee depicting a gay love story between two cowboys, the most enduring symbol of American masculinity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
That constricted sense of masculinity comes out in the album’s beefing moments.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
So many men holding fish — either because fishing is a favorite hobby or a display of masculinity (or both), who knows.
—Maggie Jones Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
On Monday, Lopez walked USA TODAY through his mood board, featuring photos of men in powdered wigs, runway moments mixing femininity and masculinity, plus the famed 2000s unofficial metrosexual spokesperson David Beckham.
—USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
The book’s themes—money, power, race, masculinity—are just as grand.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 2 May 2024
For others, there may be an aspect of flexing one’s masculinity and success through the consumption of beefsteak, a luxury in much of the world.
—Steven Kurutz Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
And his authenticity in self-expression, at the next level, promises to challenge long-running perceptions of masculinity around football.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
In hindsight, there was something audacious — and yes, political — in Ang Lee depicting a gay love story between two cowboys, the most enduring symbol of American masculinity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
That constricted sense of masculinity comes out in the album’s beefing moments.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
So many men holding fish — either because fishing is a favorite hobby or a display of masculinity (or both), who knows.
—Maggie Jones Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
On Monday, Lopez walked USA TODAY through his mood board, featuring photos of men in powdered wigs, runway moments mixing femininity and masculinity, plus the famed 2000s unofficial metrosexual spokesperson David Beckham.
—USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masculinity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Masculinity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masculinity. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
masculinity
noun
mas·cu·lin·i·ty
ˌmas-kyə-ˈlin-ət-ē
plural masculinities
: the quality, state, or degree of being masculine
measurement of masculinity or femininity—Psychological Abstracts
Psychological AbstractsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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