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.
He weirdly focused on the physiques of male candidates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
The nation also elected several historic firsts, including the first Muslim senator, the first openly gay male senator and the first Black female governor, in spite of Republican campaign attacks around identity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Against the backdrop of an unpopular war in Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on July 15, 2026, that the Pentagon would begin testing male service members 30 and older for low testosterone.
From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026
He said that a male friend had started to get nervous, believing he "might have had a problem with these boys" but the teenager tried to calm the situation with the other group.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
“At your service,” came the replies of several male guests as they stood beside Inés’s father.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
In late July, the company launched “The Male Shopper Project,” a mock training camp starring comedian Hannah Berner and Antoni Porowski, the culinary expert from “Queer Eye.”
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
Male vampires can even procreate with human women: Jesse has two half-vampire sons with his living wife, Phyllis, played by Rose Abdoo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Huw Watkins, who has performed in the Royal Albert Hall and at Wales rugby matches with Glynneath Male Voice Choir, said: "We couldn't get over it - we've never paid anything before to participate."
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Male sacrificial victims were concentrated near the East Gate, while female sacrificial remains were found in elite cemeteries including Huangchengtai and Hanjiagedan.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
Not until late December did they take Male to St. Paul’s Church to be baptized and named Francis after his father’s father and the lovely saint of Assisi.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
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
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
While award shows like the Oscars, Emmys and Tonys have stuck with the traditional male- and female-designated categories, a growing number of other ceremonies have shifted to gender-neutral awards.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 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 Annie Wood Besant
Malé, on the other hand, feels like a different world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
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
Since 2018, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has connected this archipelago’s hyper-dense capital, Malé, and the international airport — expanded by Chinese companies — one island to the east.
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Left Malé, and entered immediately the last Kioukdweng on descending, or the first defile on ascending against the stream.
From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by William Griffith
Kay is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colo., a low-security prison for males.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
It has the same horse-shaped head tilted down from the body, the same curled and grasping tail, and in the males a fully enclosed pouch for brooding the young.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
Although their original goal was to understand the mechanisms behind skin renewal, the team unexpectedly discovered striking differences between females and males.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
Three mothers, their three daughters and two adult males were freed in a reserve in the west of the island on Friday.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Tag was far less confident about jumping on other males, though.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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