male

1 of 2

adjective

ˈmāl 

1

a(1)

: of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to produce relatively small, usually motile gametes which fertilize the eggs of a female

(2)

: having or producing only stamens or staminate flowers

a male holly

b

: having a gender identity that is the opposite of female

c

: made up of usually adult members of the male sex : consisting of males

a male choir

d

: characteristic of boys, men, or the male sex : exhibiting maleness

a deep male voice

e

: designed for or typically used by boys or men

a male cologne

male contraceptives

f

: engaged in or exercised by boys or men

A social code that taught women deference to male power in return for protection was upended …

—Jane E. Schultz

g

: having a quality (such as vigor or boldness) sometimes associated with the male sex

2

: masculine sense 3b

a male rhyme

3

: designed with a projecting part for fitting into a corresponding female part

a male hose coupling

maleness

ˈmāl-nəs 

noun

male

2 of 2

noun

plural males

1

a

: a male person : a man or a boy

b

: an individual of the sex that is typically capable of producing small, usually motile gametes (such as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female

2

: a plant having stamens but no pistils

Synonyms

Adjective

• man-size
• man-sized
• manlike
• manly
• mannish
• masculine
• virile

Noun

• bastard
• bloke [chiefly British]
• buck
• cat
• chap [chiefly British]
• chappie [British]
• dude
• fella
• fellow
• galoot [slang]
• gent
• gentleman
• guy
• hombre
• jack
• joe
• joker
• lad
• man

Examples of male in a Sentence

Adjective

There were more male than female students.

Most extension cords have a male plug on one end and a female plug on the other.

Noun

She attended a school where there were more males than females.

The male of this species assists the female in feeding the young.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

He is also tied with Daniel Day-Lewis and Walter Brennan for the most male acting Oscar wins. —Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024

There’s something very male, very violent about this play. —Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

The male juror did not make it onto the jury but the female one did. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024

My lifelong partner, Cristóbal Zapata, saw a news item on television about a mine that was operated exclusively by women, something very strange because mining in Chile has always been very male. —Holly Jones, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

Two male suspects were on each scooter and passengers on the back pulled out guns and opened fire. —Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024

Those increases were about double that of their male counterparts. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 11 Apr. 2024

The loud buzzing or clicking sounds produced by male cicadas attract females and establish territories, according to Arizona State University. —The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Back then, midwives predominantly performed abortions, using herbs or metal instruments, which caused resentment among male physicians, said Karissa Haugeberg, who teaches history at Tulane University in Louisiana. —Melissa Chan, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024

Noun

Cicadas will also ward off other cicada males and birds with their high-velocity jets. —USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

The nine-generation tree stretched from a founding male buried not long after the Avars first arrived to a descendant buried 250 years later. —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 24 Apr. 2024

The public dashboard gives demographic data of prisoners who died The majority of those who died in custody last year were white, male, and 65 and older, data shows. —Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024

Last year, Black males, who make up roughly 13% of the city’s population, accounted for 65% of Kansas City’s homicide victims. —Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

Economists Michael Clemens, Claudio Montenegro and Lant Pritchett estimate that a 35-year-old Mexican male with less than a high school education earns about 2.5 times more in the United States than in Mexico. —Benjamin Powell, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024

Amick is a white male, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, 123 pounds, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2024

Responding officers also found a 31-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the leg, who was transported to BronxCare Health System. —Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024

Los Angeles firefighters responded at 1 p.m. to a call about an adult male trapped under a forklift at 970 N. Moraga Drive, said Brian Humphrey, Fire Department spokesperson. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French masle, male, adjective & noun, from Latin masculus — more at masculine

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

male

1 of 2 adjective

ˈmā(ə)l 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of females

b

: bearing only stamens

especially : having only stamens and not producing fruit or seeds

a male holly

2

: made up or consisting of males

a male choir

maleness noun

male

2 of 2 noun

: a male individual

Medical Definition

male

1 of 2 noun

ˈmā(ə)l 

: an individual that produces small usually motile gametes (as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female

male

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of female

2

: designed for fitting into a corresponding hollow part

Geographical Definition

Male

geographical name

Ma·​le ˈmä-lē 

atoll in the Indian Ocean that is the chief island of the Maldives and contains the nation's capital population 103,693