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

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

Sheinbaum’s ascension to the presidency culminated decades of battle for equal rights in a nation with a long legacy of machismo — and where women didn’t win the right to vote until 1953.

From Los Angeles Times

In Mexico — a nation with a long legacy of machismo — women did not win the right to vote until 1953.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a hint of misogyny, of machismo there,” she said in one interview.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• manhood
• manliness
• masculinity