machismo

[ mah-cheez-moh, -chiz-, muh- ]

noun

1. a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness; an assumptive attitude that virility, courage, strength, and entitlement to dominate are attributes or concomitants of masculinity.
2. a strong or exaggerated sense of power or the right to dominate:

   The military campaign was an exercise in national machismo.

machismo

/ -ˈtʃɪz-; mæˈkɪzməʊ /

noun

1. exaggerated masculine pride

Word History and Origins

Origin of machismo¹

1945–50, Americanism < Spanish macho, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of machismo¹

Mexican Spanish, from Spanish macho male, from Latin masculus masculine

Example Sentences

On social media, people blamed the swing toward Trump on machismo.

From Los Angeles Times

The explanations for this new rightward lean are coming in as fast and hot as the Santa Ana winds: Machismo.

From Los Angeles Times

Northwestern University history professor Geraldo Cadava, who has written extensively about Republican Latinos, says he’s “wary of explanations” about Latino male support for Trump “that are about machismo, misogyny and patriarchy — it might be in there, sure. But I’d also want the people making arguments about that to at least consider these more material matters, like the industries where Latino men are overrepresented, like construction and law enforcement. Their leaders are all in on Trump.”

From Los Angeles Times

Too many Latino males, the professor said, are “embracing a hyper-individualized sense” of machismo.

From Los Angeles Times

Many pundits expect that this election will feature a bigger-than-ever gender gap between women, mobilized to support Vice President Kamala Harris because of her stance on abortion, and men, drawn to Trump’s blustering machismo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• manhood
• manliness
• masculinity