masculine

[ mas-kyuh-lin ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men:

   masculine attire.

2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.

   Synonyms: manly

3. Grammar. noting or pertaining to the gender of Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., which has among its members most nouns referring to males, as well as other nouns, as Spanish dedo, “finger,” German Bleistift, “pencil.”
4. (of a woman) mannish.

noun

, Grammar.

1. the masculine gender.
2. a noun or other element in or marking that gender.

masculine

/ ˈmæskjʊlɪn /

adjective

1. possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man; manly
2. unwomanly
3. grammar
   1. denoting a gender of nouns, occurring in many inflected languages, that includes all kinds of referents as well as some male animate referents
   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Weg'' is a masculine

Derived Forms

• ˈmasculinely, adverb
• ˌmascuˈlinity, noun

Other Words From

• mascu·line·ly adverb
• mascu·lini·ty mascu·line·ness noun
• hyper·mascu·line adjective
• hyper·mascu·line·ly adverb
• hyper·mascu·line·ness noun
• hyper·mascu·lini·ty noun
• non·mascu·line adjective
• non·mascu·line·ly adverb
• non·mascu·line·ness noun
• nonmas·cu·lini·ty noun
• pseudo·mascu·line adjective
• super·mascu·line adjective
• super·mascu·lini·ty noun
• ultra·mascu·line adjective
• un·mascu·line adjective
• un·mascu·line·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English masculin, from Latin masculīnus, equivalent to mascul(us) “male” ( mās “male” + -culus -cule ¹ ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of masculine¹

C14: via French from Latin masculīnus, from masculus male, from mās a male

Synonym Study

See male.

Example Sentences

She told a story of a fellow employee who identifies as a butch dyke (a lesbian who takes on a more masculine identity).

From The Daily Beast

In America, there are way more male filmmakers than female ones, and they want to tell more masculine stories.

From The Daily Beast

No excessively masculine hero of a traditional cowboy detective story, The Dude is a different kind of man.

From The Daily Beast

Then it says masculine and feminine roles are distinct in the Bible.

From The Daily Beast

As a grad student, I believed that ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ were tools of patriarchal oppression.

From The Daily Beast

He steeled himself, for he had had his experience of woman's wiles; and his faith in masculine supremacy as a habit did not waver.

From Project Gutenberg

“Well, you are a good creetur,” said that masculine female, looking up as her friend entered.

From Project Gutenberg

She belonged to that ultra-modern school which scorns to sue masculine admiration, but which cannot dispense with it nevertheless.

From Project Gutenberg

She learned to appreciate at its true value that masculine admiration which, in an unusual degree, she had the power to excite.

From Project Gutenberg

And in the final battle, when the feminine principle is pitted against the masculine, I fancy we shall know how to win the day.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• macho
• male
• manful
• manlike
• manly
• virile