masculine

[ mas-kyuh-lin ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men:

   masculine attire.

2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.

   Synonyms: manly

3. Grammar. noting or pertaining to the gender of Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., which has among its members most nouns referring to males, as well as other nouns, as Spanish dedo, “finger,” German Bleistift, “pencil.”
4. (of a woman) mannish.

noun

, Grammar.

1. the masculine gender.
2. a noun or other element in or marking that gender.

masculine

/ ˈmæskjʊlɪn /

adjective

1. possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man; manly
2. unwomanly
3. grammar
   1. denoting a gender of nouns, occurring in many inflected languages, that includes all kinds of referents as well as some male animate referents
   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Weg'' is a masculine

Derived Forms

• ˈmasculinely, adverb
• ˌmascuˈlinity, noun

Other Words From

• mascu·line·ly adverb
• mascu·lini·ty mascu·line·ness noun
• hyper·mascu·line adjective
• hyper·mascu·line·ly adverb
• hyper·mascu·line·ness noun
• hyper·mascu·lini·ty noun
• non·mascu·line adjective
• non·mascu·line·ly adverb
• non·mascu·line·ness noun
• nonmas·cu·lini·ty noun
• pseudo·mascu·line adjective
• super·mascu·line adjective
• super·mascu·lini·ty noun
• ultra·mascu·line adjective
• un·mascu·line adjective
• un·mascu·line·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English masculin, from Latin masculīnus, equivalent to mascul(us) “male” ( mās “male” + -culus -cule ¹ ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

C14: via French from Latin masculīnus, from masculus male, from mās a male

Synonym Study

See male.

Example Sentences

So he retreats to this phony masculine idea of "strength," constructed through Hollywood magic.

From Salon

If they are such manly men, they need to practice some old-fashioned masculine stoicism.

From Salon

But unlike that that term usually implies—that we’re talking about women and/or racial minorities—this race was about a particular kind of masculine identity that increasingly crosses racial lines, and imperils women and men alike.

From Slate

He offered instead the promise of masculine strength and male dominance, of men returned to their rightful positions of authority in the White House and in houses across America.

From Slate

And in 2024, it has put another man in the White House, the latest in an unbroken masculine chain more than two centuries long.

From Slate

Related Words

• macho
• male
• manful
• manlike
• manly
• virile