Synonyms

leading man

American

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

noun

an actor who plays the principal male role in a motion picture or play.

leading man British

/ ˈliːdɪŋ /

noun

a man who plays the main part in a film, play, etc

"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

Other Word Forms

leading lady noun

Etymology

Origin of leading man

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo proved to be Wrexham's leading man with two superb shootout saves from Jesus and Omari Hutchinson.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

This turn has directly benefited Dokoupil, who was previously ambling around the network’s morning show before getting tapped as its evening leading man.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2026

With good looks and lots of charm, he’s certainly leading man material.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2025

That film proved a notable critical success on release and remains a career milestone for both director and leading man.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Nick Eisner is truly an awkward cinnamon roll of a leading man.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023