alpha male

American  

[al-fuh meyl] / ˈæl fə ˈmeɪl /

noun

1. a male animal having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy.

   Studies show that in spite of their high rank, access to females, etc., baboon alpha males experience a great deal of stress.

2. the most dominant, powerful, or assertive man in a particular group.

   He thinks he's the alpha male of investment bankers.

3. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging. a man who is perceived to be assertive, successful, and sexually dominant.

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alpha male British  

noun

1. the dominant male animal or person in a group

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Etymology

Origin of alpha male

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Around the same time, a new alpha male rose to dominance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Mr. James’s tone—that of a reformed alpha male, an ex-con and traveler of a gritty road—lends his tale authenticity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Perhaps more than anything, “Heartbreaker” is a primer on how to effectively work in a band with an alpha male.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

French journalist Laurens said: "His man management is getting better. With Paris and all the superstars and egos, he had to change a bit rather than being this alpha male he was in Germany."

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2024

Male chimps cannot gather in a constitutional assembly to abolish the office of alpha male and declare that from here on out all chimps are to be treated as equals.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari