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masculine

[ mas-kyuh-lin ]
/ ˈmæs kyə lɪn /
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See synonyms for: masculine / masculines / masculinity on Thesaurus.com
adjective
pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men: masculine attire.
having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.
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.”
(of a woman) mannish.
noun Grammar.
the masculine gender.
a noun or other element in or marking that gender.
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Origin of masculine

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English masculin, from Latin masculīnus, equivalent to mascul(us) “male” (mās “male” + -culus -cule1) + -īnus -ine1

synonym study for masculine

2. See male.

OTHER WORDS FROM masculine

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH masculine

male, masculine , macho (see synonym study at male)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to masculine

macho, male, manful, manlike, manly, virile, brawny, hardy, husky, muscular, robust, strapping, strong, sturdy, ultramasculine, vigorous, gentlemanlike, patriarchal, valiant

How to use masculine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for masculine

masculine
/ (ˈmæskjʊlɪn) /
adjective
possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man; manly
unwomanly
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 of masculine

masculinely, adverbmasculinity or rare masculineness, noun

Word Origin for masculine

C14: via French from Latin masculīnus, from masculus male, from mās a male
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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