1
: notably or deliberately masculine in appearance or manner
2
: closely cropped
a butch haircut
butch
noun
butchness
noun
Examples of butch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maybe not as uniformly vivid as his sister, Bernadette — such a pretty name for such a tough broad, in Lea DeLaria’s priceless, super-butch performance — but vivid enough to be memorable.
—
Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 28 Apr. 2022
In her academic work, Butler argues that gender and sexuality are both constructed and performative; butch identity, as female masculinity, subverts the notion that masculinity is the natural and exclusive purview of the male body.
—Kerry Manders, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2020
With Mercedes McCambridge, unforgettable as Crawford's butch nemesis, as well as Ernest Borgnine, Scott Brady, John Carradine, Royal Dano, Ward Bond, and Ben Cooper.
—Patrick Friel, Chicago Reader, 26 June 2018
In this context, Jack feels welcome: Who said only butch gay men should be stars?
—Willa Paskin, Slate Magazine, 28 Sep. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 28 Apr. 2022
In her academic work, Butler argues that gender and sexuality are both constructed and performative; butch identity, as female masculinity, subverts the notion that masculinity is the natural and exclusive purview of the male body.
—Kerry Manders, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2020
With Mercedes McCambridge, unforgettable as Crawford's butch nemesis, as well as Ernest Borgnine, Scott Brady, John Carradine, Royal Dano, Ward Bond, and Ben Cooper.
—Patrick Friel, Chicago Reader, 26 June 2018
In this context, Jack feels welcome: Who said only butch gay men should be stars?
—Willa Paskin, Slate Magazine, 28 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Butch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butch. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share