male

1 of 2

adjective

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 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

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
Adjective
See it Only one immature Andaman shortnose chimaera was found, and the male measured 20 inches in length, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 The professional hair stylist adds that her mom wasn’t alone in hoping for a male addition to their family. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Signe Lund’s greatest ambition, according to her diaries, was to have her work be recognized and appreciated on an equal footing with that of male composers. Stephen Cox, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 By 2012 Whiskers and male otter Lucius gave birth to the first litter of river otters at the Detroit Zoo in 50 years. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 The officer found a male dog lying unresponsive on the ground. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 Executives argue that the changes are minimal, but others say conservative push back and gripes from white male employees are killing diversity initiatives. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile Matilda is devious, ruthless and bloodier than even her male opponents after being raised in the Flemish royal court. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Eventually, a male suspect was taken into custody with minor injuries. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
According to a criminal complaint, surveillance footage shows Young working in the customer service area when he was approached by two males. Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 Interestingly, the species are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they are born female, with some transitioning to males later in life. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 Miller is not the first male to try out for the team, Ying said, but was the only one among the group of about 50 hopefuls this season. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Two males entered a backyard in the 3100 block of Sandage and tried to open the back door at 4am. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Feb. 2024 Following this, first assistant directors were 91% male and composers 90% male. Jaden Thompson, Variety, 29 Feb. 2024 The sound is only produced by males of the species. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The child is a Black male with brown eyes and may have his hair braided in cornrows. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024 Keshawn Browner, 22, and a 17-year-old male have been charged following the killing of 25-year-old De'miko Nelson, according to a news release from Cincinnati police. The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'male.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Cite this Entry

“Male.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/male. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

male

1 of 2 adjective
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
: 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

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