macho

1 of 2

adjective

ma·​cho ˈmä-(ˌ)chō How to pronounce macho (audio)
: characterized by machismo : aggressively virile

macho

2 of 2

noun

plural machos
1
: one who exhibits machismo
2

Examples of macho in a Sentence

Adjective the macho world of football Noun their annual guys-only hunting trip is a celebration of macho
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.
Adjective
Moura suggests that Filho’s also exploring manhood, not so much in the macho sense, but in its connection to values. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 Rocky, in that movie, has to shed the trappings of fame to recapture his magic; in The Smashing Machine, Kerr has to shed his entire macho ego. David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
The adventure centers on misfits stuck in a fantasy world that makes the most of their creativity, with an unhinged Jack Black singing about lava chicken and a hilariously macho Jason Momoa gamely taking the brunt of the gags. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 June 2025 In the 20th century, macho came to mean an exaggerated or even somewhat aggressive kind of masculinity, often with humorous undertones. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for macho

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Spanish, literally, male, from Latin masculus — more at masculine

First Known Use

Adjective

1949, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of macho was in 1949

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Cite this Entry

“Macho.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macho. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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