male

[ meyl ]

See synonyms for male on Thesaurus.com

adjective

relating to or being a man or boy.
Biology.
- of, relating to, or being a person with a certain combination of sex characteristics, commonly including an X and Y chromosome pair in the cell nuclei, a penis, scrotum, and testicles, and facial hair developed at puberty.
- of, relating to, or being an animal, plant, or plant structure of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces sperm cells during reproduction.

pertaining to or characteristic of a male person; masculine: a male voice.
comprising men or boys: a male choir.
Botany.
- designating or pertaining to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores.
- (of seed plants) staminate.
Machinery. made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part: a male plug.: Compare female (def. 6).

noun

a male person.
Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure that normally produces sperm cells as part of the process of reproduction.

Origin of male

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French ma(s)le, from Latin masculus; see masculine

synonym study For male

7. See man. 2-5. Male, masculine, virile are adjectives that describe men and boys or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Male, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is often used as a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to inseminate in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with female in all such uses: his oldest male relative; the male parts of the flower. Masculine refers essentially to qualities, characteristics, or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with men and boys. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as strength, forthrightness, and courage: a firm, masculine handshake; a masculine impatience at indecision. Virile implies a vigor and muscularity associated with mature manhood and often carries a suggestion of sexual or procreative potency: his virile good looks; a swaggering, virile walk. See also manly.

Opposites for male

female

See antonyms for male on Thesaurus.com

Other words from male

male·ness, noun
an·ti·male, noun, adjective
in·ter·male, adjective
su·per·male, noun

Words that may be confused with male

1. mail, male
2. macho, male , masculine (see synonym study at the current entry)

Other definitions for Male (2 of 3)

Male

[ mah-ley, -lee ]

noun

a city in and the capital of the Maldives.

Other definitions for male- (3 of 3)

male-

a combining form meaning “evil,” occurring in loanwords from Latin: malediction.

Origin of male-

From Latin; see origin at mal-

Compare mal-.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use male in a sentence

The breakdown of the 114th Congress is 80 percent white, 80 percent male, and 92 percent Christian.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress | Dean Obeidallah | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
As a white, educated, Western, middle-class male, I possess most of the unearned privilege the world has to offer.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion | Gene Robinson | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Complete male reproductive independence would also hinge on artificial womb technology, which also made headlines in 2014.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women | Samantha Allen | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
These days, plenty of women are turning to online sites for no-frills male companionship.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex | Aurora Snow | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Families stuff a life-size male doll with memories of the outgoing year and dress him in their clothing.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style | Candida Moss | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Now what should college give the young citizen, male or female, upon the foundation of schooling we have already sketched out?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Are you quite sure you have never suffered from this rather common disorder, gentle reader, at least, if you be of the male sex?
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
In these rooms male and female alike were confined, at one time to the number of fifteen; each being allowed 3d.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
What she meant neither the Reverend John Dodd, or any other male person, could ever truly know.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
When Yung Pak ate his meals, he sat upon a rug on the floor with his father and such male guests as might be in the house.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for male (1 of 2)

male

/ (meɪl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a man; masculine

for or composed of men or boys: a male choir
(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction
(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes
(of flowers) bearing stamens but lacking a functional pistil
electronics mechanical engineering having a projecting part or parts that fit into a female counterpart: a male plug

noun

a male person, animal, or plant

Origin of male

C14: via Old French from Latin masculus masculine

Derived forms of male

maleness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Malé (2 of 2)

Malé

/ (ˈmɑːleɪ) /

noun

the capital of the Republic of Maldives, on Malé Island in the centre of the island group. Pop: 90 000 (2005 est)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for male

male

[ māl ]

Adjective

In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete of the same species (the female gamete). The sperm cells of higher animals and plants are male gametes.
Possessing or being a structure that produces only male gametes. The testicles of humans are male reproductive organs. Male flowers possess only stamens and no carpels.

Noun

A male organism.

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