masculine

1 of 2

adjective

mas·​cu·​line ˈma-skyə-lən 

1

a

: considered to be characteristic of men

stereotypically masculine traits/characteristics

masculine pride/bravado

Cady stands as a direct challenge to Bowden's masculine dominance—their first encounter in the film, for example, is when Cady shoves his hand into Bowden's car and turns off the ignition.

—Jamelle Bouie

: marked by or having qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with men

a masculine voice

This one's a man's watch. And though it's built for rugged, masculine pursuits, the simple face and elegant strap lend it a suit-worthy elegance, too.

—advertisement in GQ

The masculine equivalent of haute couture in suits features jackets with soft shoulders, large sleeves, neat fronts and small-notched lapels …

—Ariel Wizman

b

: of, relating to, or being a man or boy

(dated) … the masculine [=male] inhabitants of the village …

—Thomas Hardy

The butler these days is seen as a masculine version of Heloise, Miss Manners and Julia Child rolled into one.

—Liz Pogue

also : of, relating to, or intended for men or boys

A hundred years later, the finery of French court dressing had given way to the simplicity of the English squire, whose coarse tweeds and woolens set the tone for a new definition of masculine attire.

—Frances Rogers

2

grammar : of, relating to, or constituting the gender (see gender entry 1 sense 1a) that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to males as well as other words and forms either systematically or arbitrarily in the same category

The word for "cat" is feminine in German (die Katze) and masculine in Spanish (el gato).

3

a

poetry : being a stressed and usually additional final syllable after the final complete foot (see foot entry 1 sense 4)

a masculine ending

b

of rhyme : having a stressed final syllable

4

of a musical cadence : ending on an accented beat

The masculine cadence resolves on the first beat of the measure and is much more conclusive than the feminine.

—William Russo

masculinely adverb

compare feminine entry 1

masculine

2 of 2

noun

plural masculines

1

grammar

a

: a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the masculine gender (see masculine entry 1 sense 2)

b

: the masculine (see masculine entry 1 sense 2) gender

2

a

: the embodiment or conception of an idealized masculine nature

the power of the divine masculine

b

: the set of qualities, features, etc. traditionally associated with men

Like many of Campion's films, "The Power of the Dog" dramatizes a clash between the masculine and the feminine—Phil's own sense of manliness is bound up with emotional remoteness and animosity toward softness.

—Jordan Kisner

compare feminine entry 2

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Examples of masculine in a Sentence

Adjective

The living room is decorated in a more masculine style than the bedroom.

“He” is a pronoun of the masculine gender.

The masculine form of the Spanish adjective “linda” is “lindo.”

Noun

The masculine of the Spanish adjective “linda” is “lindo.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The design duo Best and Tela D’Amore were able to blend streetwear and masculine and feminine energies into the fabric of their clothes. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023

The singer likes to lean into the oversized coat’s masculine energy. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2023

Testosterone levels may be one possible explanation for this, according to study author Leigh Simmons, Ph.D. Testosterone is associated with more masculine facial features and lower voices, but too much of it might actually suppress sperm production. —Christa Sgobba, Men's Health, 28 Aug. 2023

There will also be feminine pieces that will have a masculine edge. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 Aug. 2023

Many of these shows use professions as a way to comment on masculine identity. —Esther Zuckerman, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Aug. 2023

For example, a narcissistic father may scapegoat a son who doesn't have traditional masculine qualities valued by the narcissist, Durvasula says. —USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2023

In a 2014 study, researchers identified two distinct expressions: traditional machismo, which was characterized by dominant masculine traits, and caballerismo, which encompassed qualities such as hard work, family loyalty and protection. —Gisselle Medina, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023

Overawed by the film’s depravity and stylistic verve, what such critics seemed to miss was how deeply Park’s choices throughout the film were wedded to his thematic interest in the universal destructiveness of masculine rage. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023

Noun

Onlookers, perhaps uncomfortable with such displays of emotion in this most masculine of genres, immediately dubbed such bands emocore. —Michael Tedder, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2023

Give your feet a treat with our masculine meets feminine Skull Rug. —Bob Novogratz, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2023

Discover a love of tension—a play between masculine and feminine, old and new, modern and traditional. —Stephen Treffinger, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2023

Growing up my tiny-sized feminine mom bought clothes for me that didn’t work for my plus-size body or my masculine tastes. —Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 8 July 2023

In America, pink is a color that has spanned the gender spectrum at various points in history, having spent decades not being associated with any particular gender, before being ascribed in the 20th century first as a masculine and then, later, a feminine color. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 July 2023

At least in one case, Alexa’s female voice dropped a few octaves, sounding more masculine. —Bernhard Warner, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2023

The same could be said for color tones: Dark furniture reads masculine, light furniture reads feminine. —Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2023

The collection showcased an intricate blend of masculine and feminine, transmuting the high-end tailoring traditions of British menswear with haute couture fabrications, harking back to Dior’s womenswear roots. —Thomas Adamson, ajc, 23 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English masculin, from Latin masculinus, from masculus, noun, male, diminutive of mas male

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing masculine

• hyper-masculine

• hyper-masculine

Kids Definition

masculine

1 of 2 adjective

mas·​cu·​line ˈmas-kyə-lən 

1

: of the male sex

2

: characteristic of or belonging to men : manly

a masculine voice

3

: of, relating to, or making up the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to males

a masculine noun

masculine gender

masculinity

ˌmas-kyə-ˈlin-ət-ē 

noun

masculine

2 of 2 noun

1

: a word or form of the masculine gender

2

: the masculine gender

Medical Definition

masculine

adjective

mas·​cu·​line ˈmas-kyə-lən 

1

: male sense 1

2

: having the qualities distinctive of or appropriate to a male

3

: having a mannish bearing or quality