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

Thanos, the Internet-bred Alpha male flanked by two sad little hype men, steps up to the young woman with facial piercings and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude, expecting to be worshipped.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

Alpha male influencers like Andrew Tate, Nick Adams, or Myron Gaines speak to a version of masculinity that’s completely foreign to what he’s offering.

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2024

And Total Film's Jamie Graham said Watkins' "shrewd, engrossing and pleasingly nasty" imagining is unafraid to push the source material in new directions, with McAvoy "perfect... for this particular brand of Alpha male brute".

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2024

Alpha male Charlton Heston is “The Omega Man” as this post-apocalyptic thriller kicks off a five-film mini-fest of 1970s-era sci-fi flicks.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2017

If true  — does one childhood act really make a man? — that steely resolve helps explain some of Mr. Elba’s appeal: He is the un-self-questioning Alpha male of the moment.

From New York Times • Sep. 8, 2015