male

1 of 2

adjective

ˈmāl How to pronounce male (audio)
Synonyms of malenext
1
a(1)
: of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to produce relatively small, usually motile gametes which fertilize the eggs of a female
(2)
: having or producing only stamens or staminate flowers
a male holly
b
: having a gender identity that is the opposite of female
c
: made up of usually adult members of the male sex : consisting of males
a male choir
d
: characteristic of boys, men, or the male sex : exhibiting maleness
a deep male voice
e
: designed for or typically used by boys or men
a male cologne
male contraceptives
f
: engaged in or exercised by boys or men
A social code that taught women deference to male power in return for protection was upended …—Jane E. Schultz
g
: having a quality (such as vigor or boldness) sometimes associated with the male sex
2
: masculine sense 3b
a male rhyme
3
: designed with a projecting part for fitting into a corresponding female part
a male hose coupling
maleness
ˈmāl-nəs How to pronounce male (audio)
noun

male

2 of 2

noun

plural males
1
a
: a male person : a man or a boy
b
: an individual of the sex that is typically capable of producing small, usually motile gametes (such as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female
2
: a plant having stamens but no pistils

Synonyms

Adjective

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of male in a Sentence

Adjective There were more male than female students. Most extension cords have a male plug on one end and a female plug on the other. Noun She attended a school where there were more males than females. The male of this species assists the female in feeding the young.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
One male student in the video claims to have taken multiple in one night. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 And gaps in representation remain — particularly in stories about male body image and eating disorders. —Allen Zadoff, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
Of course, there’s Sharon Stone in Casino, Margot Robbie in Wolf of Wall Street, or, most recently, Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon, but the bulk of his work focuses on the perils of committing crime while male. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Concerned about gender transitions for children or about biological males playing on girls’ sports teams? —Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for male 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French masle, male, adjective & noun, from Latin masculus — more at masculine

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of male was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near male

malduck

male

Male

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Male.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/male. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

male

1 of 2 adjective
ˈmā(ə)l How to pronounce male (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of females
b
: bearing only stamens
especially : having only stamens and not producing fruit or seeds
a male holly
2
: made up or consisting of males
a male choir
maleness noun

male

2 of 2 noun
: a male individual

Medical Definition

male

1 of 2 noun
ˈmā(ə)l How to pronounce male (audio)
: an individual that produces small usually motile gametes (as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female

male

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or being the sex that produces gametes which fertilize the eggs of female
2
: designed for fitting into a corresponding hollow part

Geographical Definition

Male

geographical name

Ma·​le ˈmä-lē How to pronounce Male (audio)
atoll in the Indian Ocean that is the chief island of the Maldives and contains the nation's capital population 103,693

More from Merriam-Webster on male

Nglish: Translation of male for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of male for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about male

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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