male

1 of 2

adjective

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 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

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
Alcaraz now joins compatriot Rafael Nadal as the second male player to win five Masters 1,000 tournaments before the age of 21. George Ramsay, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Victoria Monét followed with two wins — outstanding album for Jaguar II and best new artist — while Usher took home outstanding male artist, entertainer of the year and the President’s Award. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024 The difference in change in labor activity between men and women (between the ages of 25 and 54) was most noticeable in Australia, where women’s participation has shot up by more than 3.25%, while their male counterparts sat at 0.25%. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 But Lueger was a genuine populist democrat, who brought universal male suffrage to the city. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 The Del Mar fatality is the 10th person to die after being hit by a train in San Diego County so far this year DEL MAR — A male pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a train on the North County Transit District tracks along the bluffs in Del Mar on Sunday evening, officials said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024 The documentary explores what type of behavior was allowed on the sets of children’s television shows, including women writers who claimed they were forced to accept half the salaries their male counterparts made. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 17 Mar. 2024 See it Only one immature Andaman shortnose chimaera was found, and the male measured 20 inches in length, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 The professional hair stylist adds that her mom wasn’t alone in hoping for a male addition to their family. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Approximately 25% of adolescent males are worried about not appearing muscular enough, according to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Audrey Richardson and Aurora Sousanis, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 Some carnivores, primates and hoofed mammals did have larger males. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The elephant enclosure will be repurposed for the zoo's white rhinoceroses, 40-year-old female, Sindi, and 9-year-old male, Letterman. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 The girl holds the family’s hamster in one hand and a razor blade in the other as three males berate her. Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The condition occurs in approximately 1 in every 3,000 to 4,000 births, with overwhelming predominance in males, according to the National Institute of Health. Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the victim, an unidentified male in his 30s, suffering from gunshot wounds said Officer David Cuellar of the Los Angeles Police Department. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 According to a criminal complaint, surveillance footage shows Young working in the customer service area when he was approached by two males. Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 Interestingly, the species are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they are born female, with some transitioning to males later in life. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'male.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of male was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near male

Cite this Entry

“Male.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/male. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

male

1 of 2 adjective
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
: 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 How to pronounce Male (audio)
atoll in the Indian Ocean that is the chief island of the Maldives and contains the nation's capital population 103,693

More from Merriam-Webster on male

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!