machismo
Americannoun
-
a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness; an assumptive attitude that virility, courage, strength, and entitlement to dominate are attributes or concomitants of masculinity.
-
a strong or exaggerated sense of power or the right to dominate.
The military campaign was an exercise in national machismo.
noun
Etymology
Origin of machismo
Explanation
The noun machismo describes a quality of manliness that goes way over the top: think the big-armed character Bluto from "Popeye." The overblown masculinity of a manly man is what machismo is all about. A professional wrestler, with his over-developed, muscular body, has machismo, and so does a tough Marine who believes that real men never cry. Machismo comes from the word macho, which in Spanish simply means "male," but in English has had connotations of machismo since the 1920s, when it was first used to mean "tough guy."
Vocabulary lists containing machismo
Bill Withers (1938–2020) Tribute List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Fault in Our Stars
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Friday Night Lights
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Machismo won't save us — and in fact, it often makes things worse.
From Salon • Nov. 2, 2023
Machismo, associated with traditional masculinity, emphasizes dominance and control, while marianismo idealizes women as virtuous and self-sacrificing.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2023
Machismo becomes a spectacle in this absurd comedy by the Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari.
From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2017
“Oh yes! Machismo was not such an issue there.”
From The Guardian • Dec. 31, 2016
The Young Lords party' was also ahead of its time; point number five of the manifesto stated, “Down with Machismo and Male Chauvinism!”
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
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.
