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manhood

noun
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man·​hood | \ ˈman-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce manhood (audio) \

Definition of manhood

1 : the condition of being a human being
2 : qualities associated with men : manliness
3 : the condition of being an adult male as distinguished from a child or female
4 : adult males : men
5 : penis
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about manhood

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Examples of manhood in a Sentence

He took the comment as a challenge to his manhood. He grew from boyhood to manhood in a small southern town. the manhood of a nation
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Recent Examples on the Web These teenagers were perched on that cliff wall between adolescence and manhood, footholds uncertain. — Michael Powell, New York Times, "A Season on the Rez," 6 Dec. 2019 Not going unnoticed was Derulo’s hard-to-miss manhood underneath the revealing bottoms. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, "Jason Derulo Denies Photoshopping Viral Photo of Crotch: 'Us Haitians, We Look Different'," 25 Nov. 2019 In Shakespeare’s writing, Falstaff is a poetic symbol of Prince Hal’s wayward younger days, a cheerful drunk who must be cast aside as the noble boy ascends to responsibility and manhood. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "The King Makes a Dreary Muddle of an Epic Drama," 11 Oct. 2019 But even northern Europe is hardly a manhood paradise by comparison. — Sarah Ruden, National Review, "American Men," 22 Aug. 2019 Risky rites of passage Fraternity initiations provide a rite of passage into manhood for some college men. — Adam M. Mccready, The Conversation, "Here’s what’s missing in efforts to curb heavy drinking and hazing on campus," 18 Oct. 2019 The result is a film that’s almost sci-fi adjacent, and which clearly has a lot on its mind about how brainless, macho characterizations of manhood hurt everyone, and how violence perpetuates violence. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Jesse Eisenberg on the “aspirational and also absurd” manliness in his new movie," 12 July 2019 The major action of Toy Story 4 kicks off with an existential crisis of manhood, or at least toyhood. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Toy Story 4 Is an Existential Crisis the Whole Family Can Enjoy," 20 June 2019 The point is that ideals of manhood can be—and are—wielded by men in power to the majority of men’s detriment. — Jennifer Wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Being a “Real Man” Will Kill You," 29 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'manhood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of manhood

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for manhood

Time Traveler

The first known use of manhood was in the 13th century

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Statistics for manhood

Last Updated

28 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Manhood.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manhood. Accessed 26 January 2020.

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More Definitions for manhood

manhood

noun
How to pronounce manhood (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of manhood

: the qualities (such as strength and courage) that are expected in a man
: the state or condition of being an adult man and no longer a boy
: adult men

See the full definition for manhood in the English Language Learners Dictionary

manhood

noun
man·​hood | \ ˈman-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce manhood (audio) \

Kids Definition of manhood

1 : qualities (as strength and courage) believed to be typical of men
2 : the state of being an adult human male
3 : adult human males

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More from Merriam-Webster on manhood

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for manhood

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with manhood

Spanish Central: Translation of manhood

Nglish: Translation of manhood for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of manhood for Arabic Speakers

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