beta male

[ bey-tuh meyl; or, especially British bee- ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of beta male¹

First recorded in 1970–75 beta male fordef 1; 2005–10 beta male fordef 2

Example Sentences

He has always kept close tabs on his papers and keeps his beta-male editors on a short leash.

From The Daily Beast