having or relating to a gender identity that corresponds to a complex, variable set of social and cultural roles, traits, and behaviors assigned to people of the sex that typically produces sperm cells.
Biology. of, relating to, or being an animal or human of the sex or sexual phase that normally produces sperm cells during reproduction.
Botany. designating or relating to a plant or its reproductive structure producing or containing microspores.
Botany. (of seed plants) staminate.
of, relating to, or characteristic of a male person; masculine.
a male voice.
comprising male people.
a male choir.
Machinery. made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part.
a male plug.
a male person.
Biology. an animal, plant, or plant structure that normally produces sperm cells as part of the process of reproduction.
of, relating to, or designating the sex producing gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
of, relating to, or characteristic of a man; masculine
for or composed of men or boys
a male choir
(of gametes) capable of fertilizing an egg cell in sexual reproduction
(of reproductive organs, such as a testis or stamen) capable of producing male gametes
(of flowers) bearing stamens but lacking a functional pistil
electronics mechanical engineering having a projecting part or parts that fit into a female counterpart
a male plug
In organisms that reproduce sexually, being the gamete that is smaller and more motile than the other corresponding gamete of the same species (the female gamete). The sperm cells of higher animals and plants are male gametes.
Possessing or being a structure that produces only male gametes. The testicles of humans are male reproductive organs. Male flowers possess only stamens and no carpels.
See man. Male, masculine, virile are adjectives that describe men and boys or attributes and conduct culturally ascribed to them. Male, which is applied to plants and animals as well as to human beings, is often used as a biological or physiological descriptor, classifying individuals on the basis of their potential or actual ability to inseminate in bisexual reproduction. It contrasts with female in all such uses: his oldest male relative; the male parts of the flower. Masculine refers essentially to qualities, characteristics, or behaviors deemed by a culture or society to be especially appropriate to or ideally associated with men and boys. In American and Western European culture, these have traditionally included features such as strength, forthrightness, and courage: a firm, masculine handshake; a masculine impatience at indecision. Virile implies a vigor and muscularity associated with mature manhood and often carries a suggestion of sexual or procreative potency: his virile good looks; a swaggering, virile walk. See also manly.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French ma(s)le, from Latin masculus; see masculine
From Latin; see origin at mal-
A male is a guy, a dude, a boy, or a man. A male animal is not female. Male life forms are the opposite of females in many ways. The biggest way is that males can’t have babies. Male is a manly word. Rarr! You won’t find women on an all-male rugby team. If the doctor says, “It’s a boy,” you’ve got yourself a male baby. Males exist in plants and other animals — the male is the gamete-producing sex that fertilizes the female. Things can be male, too, like adapters that have male parts that fit into female parts. Most male animals are bigger than females, but not all. The biggest blue whales are female.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As an “inflorescence” — a plant structure containing hundreds of male and female flowers at the base — the plant usually staggers its bloom to avoid self-pollination.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The women were joined by male university students sporting tattoos and T-shirts, Western attire frowned upon by the regime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Women in the study also tended to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than their male counterparts.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
Identifying species correctly, determining whether the caregiving individual is male or female, and distinguishing true parental care from similar behaviors such as mate guarding all require specialized expertise.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
We like a male cow to have big, even horns.
From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola
Male and female U1s can speak through an artificial intelligence tool programmed by the company to offer soothing words if it detects fatigue or stress, and get to know its user over time.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Along with a friend, Ciaran Hannington, 40, he co‑founded the Male Fertility Podcast and a support network for men experiencing fertility problems, with WhatsApp groups and in‑person meet‑ups.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Male heartthrobs are increasingly fluid, mirroring a new demographic reality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Male bees appeared first during warm periods in April, while females emerged several days later.
From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026
Male advocates who had once been their allies told the women to support the Fifteenth Amendment and wait until African American men secured their rights.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
There are several forms of hair loss, the most common being androgenetic alopecia, or male- or female-pattern hair loss.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026
Most of the relevant statues were written 75 years ago for a male-, union- and manufacturing-dominated workforce that no longer exists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
The dsx primary RNA thus produces female-specific mRNA and male- specific mRNA, both of which encode functional Dsx proteins, DsxF and DsxM, respectively.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Dr James Turner, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, has identified 25,000 research papers published in the past five years, around 25,000 papers that required male- or female-only mice.
From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2021
Scourged | | in Matthew; but | Passover. and mocked. | | one male- | Scourged by Pi- Led to cruci- | | factor repents. | late before con- fixion.
From Autobiographical Sketches by Besant, Annie Wood
The Maldives hotel will be located about 25 minutes by speedboat from the capital Malé and feature 80 ultraluxury beachside and over-water villas, the Trump Organization said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
As Maldivians give up on island life, the government feels compelled to keep building up Malé, the country’s one real city.
From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2024
A pink whipray splitting a school of bannerfish, shot against the setting Sun on a late afternoon at the famous dive site Tuna Factory, located close to Malé, the capital of the Maldives.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2022
According to shipping tracking data, two pleasure vessels owned by aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and iron and steel mogul Alexander Abramov entered the waters near Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on Wednesday.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 3, 2022
Malé contains 150 houses, all small; it is a place of no trade.
From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William
Few would dispute that on average or even at the median, males may be bigger and more powerful than females, or that in certain contact sports the difference may be telling and on occasion dangerous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
For the first time, the court repeatedly referred to the plaintiffs as “biological males who identify as female.”
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
An overwhelming majority of applicants were young, with eight out of 10 younger than 45 years old, while 57 percent of the total were males against 43 percent for females.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Two remaining males were apprehended from the vehicle.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Explained the system of labelling—a T for the males, a circle for the females and for those who were destined to become ffeemartins a question mark, black on a white ground.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
