leading man

noun

: 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.
How, exactly, is the 26-year-old still here, now the potential leading man in Denver’s backfield? Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 June 2025 For a bonus young, playful woman falling in love with the dreamiest, easy-to-love leading man, try K-drama Healer. Leesa Cross-Smith, People.com, 21 June 2025 Co-writer/director Joseph Kosinski is making a cottage industry out of turning sixty into the new forty for Hollywood leading men. Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Cold War-era Southeast Asia can make fools out of even Hollywood’s toughest leading men, like Marlon Brando, Knee notes. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025 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 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

leading man

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

More from Merriam-Webster on leading man

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