leading man

noun

Synonyms of leading mannext
: an actor who plays the leading male role

Examples of leading man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Hollywood’s leading men also showed off some stellar pieces. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2026 Chinese American actor Wang, however, reaffirms his leading man capabilities in a teen comedy that’s all about embracing the awkwardness of high school. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026 Gosling and Ortiz’s dynamic — equal parts humorous, tense and genuinely moving — gives the film its emotional core, providing the leading man with a scene partner who draws out some of his most spontaneous and effective acting moments. Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026 And this sartorial showing by Hollywood’s leading men was only the latest evidence that brooches are back in a big way. Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading man

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leading man was in 1827

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Cite this Entry

“Leading man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20man. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

leading man

noun
: an actor who plays the leading male role in a play or movie

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