masculine

American  

[mas-kyuh-lin] / ˈmæs kyə lɪn /

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men.

   masculine attire.

2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.

   Synonyms:

   manly

3. Grammar. noting or pertaining to the gender of Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., which has among its members most nouns referring to males, as well as other nouns, as Spanish dedo, “finger,” German Bleistift, “pencil.”

4. (of a woman) mannish.

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noun

Grammar.

1. the masculine gender.

2. a noun or other element in or marking that gender.

masculine British  

/ ˈmæskjʊlɪn /

adjective

1. possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man; manly

2. unwomanly

3. grammar

   1. denoting a gender of nouns, occurring in many inflected languages, that includes all kinds of referents as well as some male animate referents

   2. ( as noun )

      German ``Weg'' is a masculine

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Related Words

See male.

Other Word Forms

• hypermasculine
  adjective
• hypermasculinely
  adverb
• hypermasculineness
  noun
• hypermasculinity
  noun
• masculinely
  adverb
• masculineness
  noun
• masculinity
  noun
• nonmasculine
  adjective
• nonmasculinely
  adverb
• nonmasculineness
  noun
• nonmasculinity
  noun
• pseudomasculine
  adjective
• supermasculine
  adjective
• supermasculinity
  noun
• ultramasculine
  adjective
• unmasculine
  adjective
• unmasculinely
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of masculine

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English masculin, from Latin masculīnus, equivalent to mascul(us) “male” ( mās “male” + -culus -cule ¹ ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Explanation

If something’s masculine, it’s related to men. When you hear a masculine voice outside greeting your neighbor, you know it’s your dad and not your mom. Masculine can describe people or things that have qualities often associated with men. If someone has a masculine appearance, the person is probably tall and strong. If your new jacket has masculine tailoring, that means it’s cut like a man’s jacket. Masculine can also refer to words. In many languages, words — especially nouns — are given a gender. If you’ve studied French or Spanish, you know you need to figure out which article to use with a masculine noun.

Example Sentences

For drag kings, who are usually assigned female at birth but play masculine characters, the art form is more than just a performance; it’s how they defy gender and cultural norms.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

"But I promise you it worked. That was when I started to to explore the discomfort of masculine pressure."

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

The new rules of masculine engagement seem to drive these television men crazy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

As a woman working in big-budget, mainstream film, Fennell’s boldness is mistaken for trashiness; her feminine gaze is confused with a typically masculine gratuitousness.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

This is especially true for girls like myself who don’t take on a more masculine presentation.”

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• macho
• male
• manful
• manlike
• manly
• virile