beta male

American  

[bey-tuh meyl, bee-] / ˈbeɪ tə ˈmeɪl, ˈbi- /

noun

1. a male animal having the second-highest rank in a dominance hierarchy.

   In the present study, social interactions between beta males were analyzed in groups of captive baboons.

2. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging. a man who is perceived to be weak, mild-mannered, and unimpressive.

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Etymology

Origin of beta male

First recorded in 1970–75 beta male for def. 1; 2005–10 beta male for def. 2

Example Sentences

Beta male misogyny is a musician repeatedly emailing me asking to be his “antagonist pen pal” even though he knows I dislike him.

From The Guardian • Feb. 14, 2019