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
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.
His Rise to Fame Jones’ journey to leading man status has been anything but conventional. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026 Vojdani interviews scholars and tries to get to the bottom of this mystery surrounding one of literature’s most famous leading men. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026 In addition to trying to find somebody who was People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, John had an aesthetic that a lot of leading men don’t really have anymore. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026 Coppola pushed the film into famously gonzo territory, and the film shoot nearly killed him—not to mention his leading man, Martin Sheen. Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 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 16 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

leading man

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

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