manhood

noun

man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d 

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 of manhood

• masculinity

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

Recent Examples on the Web

That was a great pinball experience, just to bounce off these guys my whole life as a boy and kind of go into manhood and make music with those guys. — Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, her son Ruari (Murphy) is in a crisis about his manhood, and her parents are ailing. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026

Magazines and newspapers have spent much of the past few years filling column inches with concerns about the manhood of young Americans. — T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

In a rural lobster fishing village, Bucks Harbor explores manhood, community and survival in a harsh and beautiful world. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manhood

• prove one's manhood

Rhymes for manhood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

Kids Definition

manhood

noun

man·​hood ˈman-ˌhu̇d 

1

: courage, manliness

2

: the condition of being an adult male

3

: adult human males

the manhood of a nation