plural men
ˈmen 
in compounds ˌmen,
or mən
1
b
: the human race : humankind
the history of man
c
: a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes but distinguished especially by notable development of the brain with a resultant capacity for articulate (see articulate entry 1 sense 1a) speech and abstract reasoning, and is the sole living representative of the hominid family
broadly
: any living or extinct hominid
d(1)
: one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood (such as courage, strength, and vigor)
(2)
obsolete
: the quality or state of being manly : manliness
f
—used interjectionally to express intensity of feeling
man, what a game
2
a
: individual, person
a man could get killed there
b
: the individual who can fulfill or who has been chosen to fulfill one's requirements
she's your man
3
a
: a feudal tenant : vassal
b
: an adult male servant
c
men plural
: the working force as distinguished from the employer and usually the management
The men have been on strike for several weeks.
4
a
: one of the distinctive objects moved by each player in various board games
b
: one of the players on a team
nine men on each side
5
: an alumnus of or student at a college or university
a Bowdoin man
6
Christian Science
: the compound idea of infinite Spirit : the spiritual image and likeness of God : the full representation of Mind
7
often capitalized
: police
when I heard the siren, I knew it was the Man—
Amer. Speech
Amer. Speech8
often capitalized
: the white establishment : white society
We should control anything that affects black people. Why should The Man control us?—Jimmy Denham
Jimmy Denham9
: one extremely fond of or devoted to something specified
strictly a vanilla ice cream man
manned; manning
1
a
: to supply with people (as for service)
man a fleet
b
: to station members of a ship's crew at
man the capstan
c
: to serve in the force or complement of
man the ticket booth
2
: to accustom (a bird, such as a hawk) to humans and the human environment
3
: to furnish with strength or powers of resistance : brace
My hair bristled and my knees shook. I manned myself, however, and determined to return to my quarters.—Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott
manual
Manitoba
Examples of man in a Sentence
Noun
He was a shy boy, but he grew to be a strong and confident man.
He's a grown man now.
The movie is popular with men and women.
Are you man enough to meet the challenge?
Verb
He stocked shelves while I manned the cash register.
We'll need someone to man the phones this evening.
No one was manning the front desk.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Their names appeared on a list of more than 200 Venezuelan men held in the notorious prison, which is how their family found them.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Will Sammon, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
His parents sold women’s clothing at the local Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet and starting at six years old, young James was in charge of setting up the tent, manning the cash register and helping his mom set prices for clothes.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man
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.
Noun
Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram 817-390-7760 Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Their names appeared on a list of more than 200 Venezuelan men held in the notorious prison, which is how their family found them.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
Brandon Nimmo, who last manned the position on an everyday basis in 2023, is an option.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
His parents sold women’s clothing at the local Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet and starting at six years old, young James was in charge of setting up the tent, manning the cash register and helping his mom set prices for clothes.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man
Cite this Entry
“Man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
man
1 of 2 noun
plural men
ˈmen
1
a
: a human being
especially
: an adult male human
b
: the human race : humankind
c
d
: a primate mammal that walks on two legs and is the only living member of the hominid family
also
: any living or extinct hominid
e
—used as an interjection to express strong feeling
man, what a game
f
: fellow
—used as a mode of familiar address
2
3
a
: individual entry 2 sense 2, person
a man could be killed there
b
: a person who can or is chosen to fulfill one's requirements
she's your man
4
: one of the pieces in a game (as chess)
man
2 of 2 verb
manned; manning
1
: to supply with people (as for service)
man a ship
2
: to station members of a ship's crew at
man the ropes
3
: to serve in the force of
man the ticket counter
Etymology
Noun
Old English man "person, male person"
Medical Definition
man
noun
plural men
ˈmen
: a bipedal primate mammal of the genus Homo (H. sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes (family Pongidae) but is distinguished by greater development of the brain with resulting capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning, by marked erectness of body carriage with corresponding alteration of muscular balance and loss of prehensile powers of the foot, and by shortening of the arm with accompanying increase in thumb size and ability to place the thumb next to each of the fingers, that is usually considered to occur in a variable number of freely interbreeding races, and that is the sole living representative of the family Hominidae
broadly
: any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae
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