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• macho
  macho

  adjective

  having or characterized by qualities considered manly, especially when manifested in an assertive, self-conscious, or dominating way.
• MACHO
  MACHO

  Short for massive astrophysical compact halo object. Any of various massive dark objects, such as a brown dwarf star, black hole, or large planet, found in a galactic halo. MACHOs are thought to make up at least a part of the dark matter that apparently pervades much of the universe.

macho

American  

[mah-choh] / ˈmɑ tʃoʊ /

adjective

1. having or characterized by qualities considered manly, especially when manifested in an assertive, self-conscious, or dominating way.

2. having a strong or exaggerated sense of power or the right to dominate.

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noun

machos plural

1. Also machoism assertive or aggressive manliness; machismo.

2. an assertively virile, dominating, or domineering male.

macho British  

/ ˈmætʃəʊ /

adjective

1. denoting or exhibiting pride in characteristics believed to be typically masculine, such as physical strength, sexual appetite, etc

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noun

1. a man who displays such characteristics

MACHO Scientific  

/ mä′chō /

1. Short for massive astrophysical compact halo object. Any of various massive dark objects, such as a brown dwarf star, black hole, or large planet, found in a galactic halo. MACHOs are thought to make up at least a part of the dark matter that apparently pervades much of the universe.

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macho Cultural  

1. The often exaggerated, aggressive virility of a male: “Jim likes to wear a torn T-shirt and a black leather jacket when he rides his motorcycle. I guess he thinks it makes him look macho.” The original Spanish word means “male.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• supermacho
  noun
• antimacho
  adjective
• unmacho
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• machos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of macho

An Americanism first recorded in 1925–30; from Spanish: literally, “male,” from Latin masculus; see male, masculine

Explanation

A man who's aggressively masculine can be described as macho. A boxer might try to intimidate his opponent by walking into the ring with a macho swagger. To be macho is to display a tough, fierce, overly confident facade. A man who's macho would never cry or sip a cup of tea or pet a kitten, because none of these things would be seen as "manly" enough. In Spanish, macho means "male animal," from the Latin root masculus, also "male," but also "worthy of a man."

Example Sentences

But the billionaire Republican is also reveling in the macho side of an event that will see bare-knuckle fighters battle it out in a mesh-framed cage known as the "Octagon."

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

But instead of taking the seasoned actor’s approach to directing, which often translates to schmaltzy, overly macho films that couldn’t bear their heart to save their lives, Travolta opts for total sincerity.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

In Venezuela composer Antonio Estévez’s “Cantata Criolla,” a song contest between a macho Venezuelan troubadour and the devil leads to the spiritual ecstasy of exorcism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Dame Jilly Cooper died in 2025 aged 88, but recently made headlines after asking the executive producers of the show to stop making her macho men cry on screen.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

Corrections was, albeit in a rarefied macho way, a “people-skills” profession.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• aggressive
• cocky
• manly
• masculine