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

Mr. James’s tone—that of a reformed alpha male, an ex-con and traveler of a gritty road—lends his tale authenticity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

“Even though there’s an alpha male, the more subordinate males within the troop will mate with the females and do what’s called sneak breeding,” said Candace Sclimenti, curator of mammals at the zoo.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

"In EastEnders, I played an alpha male that wore a pink dressing gown. I was a very sensitive soul."

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2025

Dubbed the “Cinnamon Roll Man,” the persona spotlights a new brand of A-lister men who abandon the testosterone-fueled alpha male stereotype rooted in toxic masculinity.

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2023

For example, common chimpanzees have a genetic tendency to live in hierarchical groups headed by an alpha male.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari