macho

[mah-choh]

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.

noun

plural

machos 

1. Also machoism assertive or aggressive manliness; machismo.

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

macho

/ ˈmætʃəʊ /

adjective

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

noun

1. a man who displays such characteristics

MACHO

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.

macho

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.”

Other Word Forms

• antimacho adjective
• supermacho noun
• unmacho adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of MACHO¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of MACHO¹

C20: from Spanish: male; see _machismo

Example Sentences

These predators practice unfettered instant Darwinism while lobbing macho boasts at each other in the extraterrestrial version of dialogue written for professional wrestlers.

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A taste of the macho banter that powered “True West” and “Buried Child” might have clarified his particular force as a writer.

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As macho as the protagonist of a Lifetime movie, moping like an adolescent and watching too much TV, Mr. White’s Springsteen is clearly depressed, but Mr. Cooper’s script doesn’t provide much illumination.

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There’s not too much of this kind of gay cliché, though Mr. Heizer is required to make his character an obvious target among his macho “brethren,” some of whom—shockingly—may be gay themselves.

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Chomps has redefined a product once seen as a nostalgic macho niche.

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Related Words

• aggressive 
• cocky 
• manly 
• masculine